FOURTH  BISHOP  °f PHILADELPHIA 


ATr 


RIGHT    REV.    JOHN    N.    NEUMANN,    D.D., 

Of  the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer. 
FOURTH     BISHOP    OF    PHILADELPHIA. 


LIFE 

L^ 


OF 


Rig  Rev.  JOHN  N.  NEUMANN,  D.D 

OF  THE  CONGREGATION  OF  THE  MOST   HOLY  REDEEMER. 

FOURTH   BISHOP  OF  PHILADELPHIA. 
From  the  German  of 

REV.  JOHN  A.  BERGER,  C.SS.R., 

BY 

REV.  EUGENE  GRIMM,  C.SS.R. 


SECOND    EDITION. 


NEW  YORK,  CINCINNATI,  AND  ST.  LOUIS : 

BENZIGER     BROTHERS, 

PRINTERS  TO  THE  HOLY  APOSTOLIC  SEE. 

1884.        ^ 


APPROBATION. 

By  virtue  of  the  authority  granted  me  by  the  Most 
Rev.  Nicholas  Mauron,  Superior-General  of  the  Congre- 
gation of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer,  I  hereby  sanction 
the  publication  of  this  translation  of  the  "  Life  of  Right 
Rev.  John  N.  Neumann,  C.SS.R." 

ELIAS   FRED.  SCHAUER, 

Sup.  Prov.  Baltimoricnsis. 
Baltimore,  Md.,  January  3,  1884. 


COPYRIGHT,  1884,  BY  BENZIGER   BROTHERS. 


V 


LETTER   ADDRESSED   TO   THE   AUTHOR 

BY  THE 

MOST  REV.  JAMES  FREDERICK  WOOD, 

ARCHBISHOP   OF  PHILADELPHIA. 


REVEREND  AND  DEAR  FATHER: 

It  was  to  me  a  source  of  great  gratification  when  I 
heard  that  you  were  preparing  for  publication  the  Life 
of  your  illustrious  uncle,  the  Right  Rev.  John  Nepomu- 
cene  Neumann,  my  venerable  predecessor.  I  thought 
that  it  was  but  right  and  proper  that  a  record  should  be 
made  of  his  many  virtues,  that  they  might  serve  to  all 
as  an  example  worthy  of  contemplation  and  imitation. 

I  also  rejoice  that  the  work  was  undertaken  by  one 
who  has  had  at  his  disposal  solid  material  derived  from 
the  annals  of  his  time  and  from  the  traditions  of  his 
brethren  in  religion. 

My  first  acquaintance  with  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop 
Neumann  began  in  Cincinnati  in  1857,  when  he  kindly 
came  there  to  assist  at  my  consecration  as  his  Coadjutor. 
As  the  Bishop  died  in  1860,  I  had  a  little  less  than  three 
years  to  enjoy  his  society,  yet  long  enough  to  be  edified 
by  his  example  and  aided  by  his  advice.  I  became  con- 
vinced that  he  had  all  the  learning  and  virtue  necessary 
to  adorn  the  high  position  which  he  occupied.  I  still 
admire  his  lively  faith,  his  firm  hope,  and  his  burning 
charity,  his  fortitude,  and  his  constancy  in  the  discharge 
of  all  his  apostolic  duties. 


6  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

I  am,  therefore,  fully  persuaded  that  his  Life  will  be 
interesting,  instructive,  and  edifying;  that  it  will  serve 
as  a  model  for  our  youth,  as  an  example  for  priests  and 
religious,  and  as  an  ornament  of  the  episcopal  office. 

I  could  record  many  incidents  that  happened  during 
the  life  of  the  venerable  prelate,  but  his  biography  will 
contain  them  as  well  as  other  facts  that  will  show  forth 
his  noble  character,  and  will  stimulate  its  readers  to  imi- 
tate his  virtues.  Hoping  that  there  may  also  be  an  Eng- 
lish translation  of  the  Life, 

I  am,  reverend  and  dear  Father, 
With  much  esteem  and  affection, 
Your  servant  in  Christ, 

JAMES  F.  WOOD, 
Archbishop  of  Philadelphia. 
CATHEDRAL,  PHILADF  .PHIA,  October  4,  1881. 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 


ALTHOUGH  twenty-two  years  have  elapsed  since  the 
death  of  Bishop  John  N.  Neumann,  he  still  lives  in  the 
hearts  of  all  that  knew  him;  and  many  have  expressed 
the  wish  that  his  memory  should  be  preserved,  his  biog- 
raphy written  for  the  edification  of  posterity. 

For  this  reason,  Superiors  several  years  ago  entrusted 
to  me  the  task  of  compiling  his  Life  —  a  task  whose 
accomplishment  was  by  no  means  easy.  For  although 
the  servant  of  God  performed  many  great  deeds,  his  ex- 
traordinary humility  enabled  him  to  conceal  them,  in  a 
measure,  from  the  eyes  of  all  save  God  alone.  The  dio- 
cesan archives  of  his  time  record  nothing  calculated  to 
throw  light  upon  the  subject;  and  the  missionaries  who 
labored  with  him,  comparatively  few  in  number,  were 
too  much  occupied  with  the  care  of  souls  to  record  a 
history  of  their  trials  and  labors.  Sufficient  material 
was,  however,  soon  collected  from  which  the  Life  of  the 
holy  Bishop  could,  to  some  considerable  extent,  be  faith- 
fully portrayed.  From  the  members  of  his  immediate 
family,  his  brother  and  sisters,  many  interesting  and  re- 
liable communications  were  received;  but  his  own  let- 
ters and,  above  all,  his  own  journal  have  proved  valuable 
sources  of  information.  They  afford  a  consoling  glimpse 
into  his  noble  heart  and  elevated  soul. 

Thanks  are  due  to  all  that  have  aided  me  in  the  fulfil- 
ling of  my  task.  Any  additional  communications  will  be 
gratefully  received  and  used  in  a  subsequent  edition. 


8  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

In  compliance  with  the  decree  of  Pope  Urban  VIII., 
I  declare  that  to  the  miracles,  revelations,  graces,  and 
wonders  recorded  in  this  book,  as  also  in  reference  to 
the  titles  Saint  and  Blessed  given  to  persons  not  yet  can- 
onized, it  is  not  my  intention  to  ascribe  any  other  than 
a  purely  human  faith,  excepting,  however,  in  those  cases 
which  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  has  confirmed  by 
her  judgment. 

If  this  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann  should  stimulate  the 
reader  to  a  more  fervent  practice  of  the  love  of  God,  I 
shall  be  richly  compensated  for  my  labor.  May  it  serve 
to  edify  the  faithful  and  encourage  my  brethren  in  re- 
ligion in  the  discharge  of  the  onerous  duties  of  their 
state  of  life  ! 

BALTIMORE,  FEAST  OF  ST.  WENCESLAUS,  1882. 

Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  Arrival  of  the  Redemptorists  in  America. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

Letter  of  the  Most  Rev.  James  Frederick  Wood 5 

Preface 7 

PART   I. 

NEUMANN'S  YOUTH.— 1811-1836. 

CHAPTER 

I.  Birthplace  and  Childhood II 

II.  Student-Life 26 

III.  The  Seminary  at  Budweis 39 

IV.  At  the  Archiepiscopal  Seminary  of  Prague 45 

V.  His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian 50 

VI.  Trials  and  Sufferings 72 

VII.   Preparations  for  Departure  to  America 95 

VIII.  Departure  from  Home no 

IX.  Voyage  to  the  New  World 141 

PART   II. 

JOHN   N.   NEUMANN  AS  A  SECULAR   PRIEST.— 1836-1840. 

I.  John  Neumann  is  Raised  to  the  Dignity   of   the    Priest- 
hood    150 

II.   Rev.   Mr.   Neumann  Starts   for  the  Scene   of   his  Future 

Labors 155 

III.  Father  Neumann's  Field  as  a  Missionary 159 

IV.  Father  Neumann's  Zeal  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Ministry. .   166 
V.  Trials  and  Sufferings  in  the  Ministry 182 

VI.  Father  Neumann  and  Non-Catholics 191 

VII.  Father  Neumann's  Missionary  Plans 201 

VIII.  Father  Neumann's  own  Sanctification 208 

IX.  Father  Neumann's  Vocation  to  the  Religious  Life 216 


io  Contents. 

PART   III. 

FATHER   NEUMANN   A   REDEMPTORIST.— 1840-1852. 

I.  The  Redemptorists  in  America 222 

II.  St.   Philomena's  Church,   Pittsburg,  and  St.  Alphonsus", 

Baltimore 238 

III.   Father  Neumann  a  Novice  among  the  Redemptorists 246 

IV.  Father   Neumann   Superior   of  the  Redemptorists,  Pitts- 
burg 260 

V.  Father  Neumann  Vice- Provincial  of  the  Redemptorists  in 

America 282 

VI.  Father  Neumann's  Labors  as  Vice- Provincial 290 

VII.  Father  Neumann  is  Raised  to  the  Episcopate 320 

PART   IV. 

FATHER    NEUMANN   AS    BISHOP    OF    PHILADELPHIA— 
1852-1860. 

I.  The  Diocese  of  Philadelphia 323 

II.   Bishop  Neumann's  Arrival  in  Philadelphia 326 

III.  Bishop  Neumann's  Pastoral  Charge 334 

IV.  The  Establishment  of  Catholic  Schools  in  the  Diocese  of 

Philadelphia 342 

V.  Bishop  Neumann's  Solicitude  for  his  Clergy 350 

VI.  Bishop    Neumann's    Solicitude  for  the   Religious   of  his 

Diocese 361 

VII.  Bishop  Neumann's  Reverence  and  Devotion  in  the  Per- 
formance of  Sacred  Functions 371 

VIII.  The  Building  of  the  Cathedral 381 

IX.   Bishop  Neumann  visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place 386 

X.   Bishop  Neumann  is  Assigned  a  Coadjutor. 414 

XI.   Some  Traits  of  Bishop  Neumann's  Saintly  Character 420 

XII.   Death  and  Obsequies  of  Bishop  Neumann 43O 

XIII.   Bishop  Neumann's  Reputation  for  Sanctity.     Extraordi- 
nary Effects  of  his  Intercession 45° 


PART  I. 

NEUMANN'S  YOUTH. 
1811-1836. 


CHAPTER  I. 
Birthplace  and  Childhood. 

IN  a  rich  and  highly-cultivated  valley  in  the  south- 
western part  of  Bohemia,  lies  the  ancient  city  of 
Prachatitz.  The  surrounding  mountains,  towering  up 
to  a  considerable  height,  their  summits  clothed  with 
dense  foliage  and  pine-forests,  afford  a  grand  and 
imposing  view. 

The  natural  beauties  of  this  charming  region,  as  well 
as  its  historical  associations,  attract  thither  during  the 
summer  months  visitors  from  all  parts,  who,  having 
inhaled  new  vigor  from  its  fresh  mountain-breezes,  leave 
with  regret  so  delightful  a  spot. 

As  early  as  the  year  1036,  Prachatitz  was  an  important 
little  city,  the  chief  depot  of  trade  between  Bavaria  and 
Bohemia.  The  road  leading  from  it  to  Passau  is  called, 
even  at  the  present  day,  "  The  Golden  Path,"  since  from 
the  intercourse  between  these  two  places,  the  inhabitants 
derived  great  gain. 

Some  of  its  edifices,  though  centuries  old,  are  still  so 
well  preserved  as  to  suggest  the  probability  of  their  out- 
lasting many  a  modern  structure.  Their  frescos  are 
still  bright,  and  the  inscriptions  in  Hebrew,  Greek, 


12  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Latin,  Bohemian,  and  German,  are  not  only  discernible, 
but  may  be  readily  deciphered.  On  the  city  brewery 
is  an  excellent  fresco  representing  a  hard-fought  battle 
of  the  olden  times  from  which  the  inhabitants  came 
forth  victorious.  On  the  town-hall  and  several  private 
houses  are  portrayed  in  vivid  colors  the  kings  and 
patron  saints  of  the  country,  as  also  allegorical  repre- 
sentations of  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity,  whilst  numerous 
texts  from  Holy  Scripture  suggest  the  practice  of  justice, 
prudence,  and  patriotism.  The  finest  and  most  impor- 
tant monument  of  the  city  is  the  old  parish  church,  built 
at  the  beginning  of  the  fourteenth  century,  which  was 
destined  to  become  in  after-years  the  scene  of  distress- 
ing events. 

Under  the  reign  of  Sigismund  (1410-1437)  the  German 
Empire  was  exposed  to  various  religious  and  political 
disturbances.  It  was  at  Prague  that  Huss  made  himself 
notorious,  publicly  announcing  his  errors  from  the  pul- 
pit and  the  professorial  chair.  Obstinately  persisting 
in  his  heresy  at  the  Convention  of  Kostnitz,  he  was, 
by  order  of  the  court,  burnt  alive  on  July  6,  1415.  One 
year  later  a  similar  fate  befell  his  disciple  and  friend, 
Jerome  of  Prague. 

Their  followers,  exasperated  by  such  treatment,  gath- 
ered around  their  daring  leader,  John  Zizka,  and  at- 
tacked the  Government  House  at  Prague.  Then  these 
fanatics,  who  called  themselves  Hussites,  or  Taborites, 
rushed  upon  the  Catholics,  whom  they  plundered  and 
murdered,  and  set  fire  to  convents  and  churches.  One 
of  their  unjust  demands  was  that  laymen  should  be 
allowed  to  drink  out  of  the  chalice  at  Holy  Communion, 
and  in  their  processions  they  often  bore  the  chalice 
before  them  like  a  banner.  In  November,  1420,  Zizka 
appeared  with  his  enraged  followers  before  the  town  of 
Prachatitz.  The  gates  had  been  locked,  the  draw- 
bridge raised,  and  the  citizens  ranged  on  the  walls  to 
defend  their  city.  Zizka,  in  a  friendly  tone,  called  out  to 


Birthplace  and  Childhood.  13 

them  to  surrender:  "Open  the  gates  that  we  and  our 
priests  may  enter  with  the  Most  Sacred  Body  of  Christ. 
We  promise  to  do  you  no  harm."  The  besieged,  with 
Christian  boldness,  answered,  "We  want  neither  your 
Body  of  Christ  nor  your  priests.  We  have  our  own 
Body  of  Christ;  we  have  our  own  priests!"  Enraged  at 
this  answer,  Zizka  cried  out,  "  I  swear  by  the  Almighty, 
not  one  of  you  shall  live;  I  will  put  you  all  to  death !" 
The  Catholics  defended  themselves  heroically,  but  were 
vanquished,  at  last,  by  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy. 
The  savage  Hussites  scaled  the  walls,  massacred  the 
defenders,  beat  down  the  gates,  poured  into  the  city  like 
a  devastating  flood,  and  slew  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  of  the  inhabitants  in  the  streets.  Still  thirsting  for 
carnage,  they  forced  their  way  into  the  houses,  dragged 
the  frightened  occupants  from  their  hiding-places, 
butchered  the  men,  and  drove  the  defenceless  women 
and  children  from  the  city. 

After  this  cruel  massacre,  the  Hussites  remained  in 
undisturbed  possession  of  Prachatitz.  To  crown  his 
impious  deeds,  Zizka  caused  eighty-five  of  the  citizens 
to  be  locked  up  in  a  side-chapel  of  the  principal  church 
and,  deaf  to  their  cries  for  mercy,  ordered  straw  soaked 
in  pitch  to  be  lighted  and  thrown  down  upon  them  from 
above. 

In  their  death-struggles  these  martyrs  for  the  faith 
vainly  tried  to  force  the  iron  window-grating,  which  even 
at  the  present  day  is  pointed  out  in  its  bent  state,  as  a 
memorial  of  the  terrible  event. 

For  nearly  two  hundred  years  the  heretics  occupied 
the  city,  whose  beautiful  church  they  abused  and  pro- 
faned. The  Thirty  Years'  War  (1618-1648)  brought  a 
change  in  affairs.  As  the  first  religious  disturbances  had 
broken  out  in  Bohemia,  under  Huss,  one  hundred  years 
before  the  so-called  Reformation,  so,  too,  did  the  Thirty 
Years'  War  take  its  rise  in  the  same  country.  During 
the  reign  of  the  Emperor  Mathias,  Protestant  tenants  of 


14  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

the  Archbishop  of  Prague,  relying  on  the  imperial  re- 
script given  them  by  the  Emperor,  Rudolph  II.,  erected 
churches  at  Klostergrab,  whilst  those  of  the  Abbot  of 
Braunau  did  the  same.  The  rescript  had,  however,  been 
granted  only  to  the  Protestant  lords  and  knights,  and 
not  to  the  Protestant  tenants  of  Catholic  landlords,  as 
was  decided  by  both  the  court  and  the  Emperor. 

On  the  23d  of  May,  1618,  Count  Thurn,  with  a  body 
of  Protestant  Bohemians,  made  his  way  into  the  royal 
castle,  seized  the  imperial  councillors  and  hurled  them 
out  the  windows.  Daily  increasing  in  numbers,  the 
malcontents  expelled  the  Jesuits,  and  placed  the  supreme 
authority  in  the  hands  of  a  regency  composed  of  thirty 
directors. 

The  Protestants  had,  in  1608,  formed  a  compact  called 
"'The  Union,"  at  the  head  of  which  was  Frederick  of  the 
Palatinate,  who  sent  the  insurgents  auxiliary  troops 
under  the  command  of  Count  Mansfeld.  And  now  the 
flames  of  revolt  burst  forth.  The  Emperor  Mathias 
was  succeeded  by  Ferdinand  II.  The  rebels  discarded 
the  new  Emperor,  and  at  Prague  solemnly  crowned 
Frederick  of  the  Palatinate  leader  of  the  Protestant 
Union.  With  the  aid  of  the  brave  Tilly,  the  usurper 
was,  however,  defeated  at  White  Mountain,  near  Prague, 
November  8,  1820,  by  Maximilian  of  Bavaria,  head  of  the 
Catholic  League. 

In  1619,  Mansfeld's  troops  occupied  the  city  of 
Prachatitz  as  a  frontier  fortress;  but  on  September  27, 
of  the  following  year,  they  were  vanquished  after  a 
bloody  battle  with  the  imperial  forces  under  Count 
Boucquoi. 

Peregrin,  in  his  Chronicles,  gives  a  sad  picture  of  that 
fearful  combat  in  which  eighteen  hundred  soldiers  lost 
their  lives.  Hundreds  of  cannon-balls  may  still  be  seen 
in  various  openings  of  the  city  wall,  striking  proofs  of 
the  sanguinary  attack. 

While    Mansfeld  held    Prachatitz,  its  Catholics  num- 


Birthplace  and  Childhood.  15 

bered  only  eighty-eight.  They  assembled  for  divine 
service  in  the  side-chapel  of  St.  Barbara.  Six  years 
later,  however,  all  the  inhabitants  returned  to  the  faith 
which  St.  Adalbert  had  preached  to  their  forefathers. 
The  church  of  Sts.  Peter  and  Paul  is  said  to  have  been 
dedicated  by  the  same  holy  Bishop.* 

In  this  ancient  and  memorable  city,  on  Good-Friday, 
March  28,  1811,  the  subject  of  the  present  biography 
was  born.  On  the  same  day  his  soul  was  regenerated 
to  the  life  of  grace  in  the  church  of  the  Apostle  St. 
James  Major.  His  sponsors,  John  and  Barbara  Marek, 
a  truly  Christian  husband  and  wife,  named  him  John 
after  the  glorious  protector  of  Bohemia. 

To  the  new-born  child  was  granted  the  inestimable 
blessing  of  good  and  pious  parents.  Philip  Neumann,  his 
father,  born  at  Obernburg,  Bavaria,  October  16,  1774, 
had  come  to  Bohemia  and  settled  in  Prachatitz  in  1802, 
making  choice  of  this  city  because  into  it  his  business 
of  stocking-weaving  had  not  yet  been  introduced.  Here 
he  married  Agnes  Lebis,  the  virtuous  daughter  of  one  of 
the  citizens. 

God  blessed  their  union  with  six  children,  to  whom 
the  pious  parents  imparted  a  truly  Christian  education. 
John,  whose  birth  and  baptism  we  have  just  recorded, 
was  the  third  child.  The  eldest  daughter,  Catherine, 
married  Mathias  Berger,  who  left  her  a  widow  in  1848, 
when  she  chose  a  life  of  seclusion  devoted  to  God  alone. 
Her  only  son  entered  the  religious  state  and  became  a 
priest.  Veronica,  the  second  child,  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Anthony  Kandl,  and  died  in  1850  without  off- 
spring. Joanna,  the  fourth  child,  entered  at  Prague,  in 
1840,  among  the  Sisters  of  Charity  of  St.  Charles  Bor- 
romeo,  and  took  the  name  of  Sr.  Mary  Caroline.  These 
religious  had  recently  been  introduced  into  Bohemia 
from  Nancy,  in  Lorraine.  At  present  they  are  laboring 

*  St.  Adalbert  died  a  martyr  in  997. 


1 6  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

successfully  in  various  communities,  in  prisons  and 
orphanages.  Since  her  profession,  Sr.  Mary  Caroline 
has  constantly  exercised  the  office  of  Superioress,  and 
for  a  long  time  that  of  Superioress-General.  The  fifth 
child,  Aloysia,  has,  since  the  death  of  her  much-loved 
father,  been  with  the  same  Sisters  of  St.  Charles  Bor- 
romeo.  The  youngest  child  was  a  son,  named  Wences- 
laus.  He  learned  his  father's  trade,  and  was  destined  to 
succeed  him  in  the  business;  but  Almighty  God  had 
ordained  otherwise.  He  followed  his  brother  John  to 
America,  where  he  has  been  since  1841  a  lay-brother  in 
the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer.  Such 
were  the  consoling  fruits  of  conscientious  and  religious 
training  on  the  part  of  parents  whose  earnest  endeavor 
was  to  give  good  example  to  their  children. 

The  fear  of  God  reigned  in  their  household,  and  the 
works  of  a  genuine  Christian  life  were  zealously  per- 
formed by  all  its  members.  It  was  soon  well  known  in 
the  little  town  that  if  one  of  Philip  Neumann's  work- 
men dared  to  utter  an  improper  word  on  his  employer's 
premises,  he  would  be  suffered  to  make  his  appearance 
there  no  longer.  Morning  and  evening,  before  and  after 
meals,  prayer  was  made  in  common,  the  head  of  the 
family  presiding.  Business  ceased  earlier  than  usual  on 
Saturday  afternoon,  that  the  workrooms  might  be 
cleaned  and  the  employees  free  from  labor  on  Sunday. 

Philip  Neumann  was  a  man  of  very  active  habits. 
He  was  never  seen  idle.  "  Early  to  bed  and  early  to 
rise"  was  his  motto;  and  his  whole  life  was  an  exempli- 
fication of  the  proverb,  "  Eat  little,  live  long." 

His  eminent  virtues,  above  all  his  prudence,  rendered 
him  conspicuous  among  his  fellow-citizens,  who  elected 
him  to  several  public  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he  con- 
scientiously discharged  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  It 
was  as  city-almoner  that  he  especially  distinguished 
himself;  for  during  his  administration  of  that  office  a 
beggar  on  the  streets  was  a  rare  sight.  He  levied  a 


Birthplace  and  Childhood.  17 

poor-tax,  and  with  the  proceeds  established  a  fund  for 
the  relief  of  the  indigent  according  to  their  needs.  Here 
he  acted  with  his  usual  discretion.  To  the  destitute 
through  their  own  improvidence  or  extravagance  he 
furnished  food  and  fuel,  but  withheld  money  lest  they 
should  squander  it;  and  he  provided  that  young  jour- 
neymen should  be  supported  by  the  guilds.  The  gen- 
eral esteem  for  Mr.  Neumann  was  so  great  that  not  unfre- 
quently  the  people,  young  and  old,  would  kiss  his  hand 
when  they  met  him  on  the  street. 

Rassion  never  influenced  his  actions,  as  the  following 
instance  will  prove.  His  little  daughters,  it  seems,  were 
great  admirers  of  scalloped  dresses.  One  of  them,  in 
her  childlike  simplicity,  conceived  the  happy  idea  of 
affording  her  father  a  most  unexpected  pleasure,  a  most 
agreeable  surprise.  Watching  her  opportunity,  she 
slipped  unnoticed  to  the  wardrobe  where  hung  her 
father's  holiday  suit,  took  down  the  coat  and,  as  skilfully 
as  she  could,  scalloped  the  skirt.  Next  Sunday,  the  un- 
suspecting father  donned  the  coat,  and  was  about  start- 
ing for  church  when  some  one  drew  his  attention  to 
its  unusual  ornamentation.  Convinced  that  one  of  the 
little  girls  had  been  trying  her  skill  on  his  coat,  he  called 
them  together  and  inquired  which  of  them  had  done  it. 
But  no  answer  came  from  the  startled  group;  no  ac- 
knowledgment of  guilt  was  made.  Displeased  at  their 
want  of  candor,  the  father  quietly  changed  the  coat  for  an- 
other, and  went  to  church.  On  his  return,  he  tried  again 
to  discover  the  author  of  the  mischief.  "  If  I  could  find 
out  who  scalloped  my  coat  so  beautifully,"  said  he,  "I 
would  give  her  a  twenty-cent  piece."  Instantly  one  of 
the  children  cried  out,  "Father,  I  did  it,  I  did  it !"  The 
little  offender  did,  indeed,  receive  the  promised  reward; 
but,  at  the  same  time,  she  underwent  a  suitable  punish- 
ment, not  because  she  had  spoiled  the  coat,  but  because 
she  had  delayed  to  confess  her  fault. 

The  following  incident  portrays  Mr.  Neumann's  Chris- 


1 8  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

tian  sentiments.  He  had  been  frequently  warned  that  a 
certain  poor  man  was  in  the  habit  of  committing  petty 
thefts  at  his  expense.  At  first  Mr.  Neumann  would  not 
credit  the  report,  his  charity  inclining  him  to  think  well 
of  all.  But  finally  the  thief  was  caught  in  the  act,  and 
Mr.  Neumann  himself  sought  an  interview  with  him. 
In  trembling  tones  he  thus  addressed  the  offender: 
"You  know,  my  friend,  that  God  sees  even  our  most 
hidden  thoughts.  How  dare  you,  then,  offend  against 
the  Almighty  ?"  The  poor  man  was  so  affected  by  his 
words  and  manner  that  he  began  to  shed  tears.  "  For- 
give me!"  he  cried,  "I  was  driven  to  it  by  necessity." 
Mr.  Neumann  replied:  "Had  you  mentioned  your  needs 
to  me,  I  would  gladly  have  relieved  them.  For  the 
future,  come  to  me  when  you  are  in  want,  but  never  re- 
sort to  theft  again."  The  poor  fellow  was  deeply  hum- 
bled. He  received  a  large  alms  on  the  spot,  and,  to  fill 
up  the  measure  of  his  forgiveness,  Mr.  Neumann  for- 
bade the  two  witnesses  to  speak  of  the  affair,  that  the 
man's  reputation  might  not  suffer. 

Let  us  here  record  the  testimony  of  the  venerable 
Father  Schmidt,  at  that  time  Catechist  and  Director  of 
the  city  school.  In  a  letter  dated  February  27,  1872,  he 
says:  "  The  parents  of  Bishop  Neumann  were  plain 
people  of  Prachatitz,  but  highly  distinguished  for  their 
thoroughly  Christian  conduct  and  industry.  The  father 
was  specially  noted  for  his  activity  as  city-councilman 
and  city-almoner.  The  Christian  education  which  their 
children  received  was  truly  exemplary.  So  well  trained 
were  they  that  a  look  from  their  parents  had  more  effect 
upon  them  thajj  corporal  punishment  on  other  children." 

In  the  practice  of  all  good  works,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neu- 
mann were  models  for  imitation.  Their  biography,  writ- 
ten by  their  illustrious  son  himself,  records  the  following: 
"Our  education  was  conducted  in  accordance  with  the 
good  old  Catholic  method,  for  our  parents  were  thorough 
Christians.  After  morning  prayers,  our  father  superin- 


Birthplace  and  Childhood.  19 

tended  his  workmen  until  evening.  Our  mother  daily 
heard  Mass,  to  which  she  always  took  one  or  other  of 
the  children.  She  received  Holy  Communion  and  fasted 
on  certain  days  besides  those  prescribed  by  the  Church. 
That  one  of  us  who  had  been  so  fortunate  as  to  be 
chosen  to  accompany  her  to  Mass,  to  the  Rosary,  or 
to  the  Way  of  the  Cross,  generally  received  a  penny 
or  some  other  trifling  reward."  This  circumstance  gave 
rise  to  the  following  ingenuous  remark  on  the  part  of 
one  of  their  young  companions.  His  mother  was  ex- 
horting him  to  imitate  John's  assiduity  in  attending 
church,  when  the  little  fellow  replied,  "  Mother,  give  me 
a  penny  every  day,  and  I  will  do  the  same;  I'll  be  just 
like  him." 

It  was  an  acknowledged  fact  that  when  Mr.  Neumann 
no  longer  held  the  office  of  city-almoner,  beggars  began 
again  to  frequent  the  streets.  Certain  days,  Fridays  es- 
pecially, were  set  apart  by  Mrs.  Neumann  for  the  distri- 
bution of  alms.  Then,  prayer-book  or  rosary  in  hand, 
a  bag  of  flour  and  a  basket  of  bread  at  her  side,  she 
would  take  her  seat  near  the  door  and  deal  out  to  the 
poor  according  to  their  needs.  Her  donations  were  al- 
ways accompanied  by  a  few  kind  and  instructive  words. 
Others  received  a  breakfast  or  a  dinner  on  specified  days. 
To  relieve  the  wants  of  the  poor  was  her  delight,  and, 
like  a  wise  and  prudent  mother,  she  strove  to  instil  into 
her  children  an  active  love  for  their  neighbor.  She 
taught  them  that  virtue,  to  be  of  value,  must  spring  from 
the  heart;  and,  to  accustom  them  to  its  practice,  she  often 
placed  in  their  tiny  hands  the  alms  to  be  distributed 
among  the  needy.  She  lost  no  opportunity  of  instruct- 
ing them,  and  a  few  simple  words  from  Tier  lips  sufficed 
to  incline  them  to  good.  One  day  her  daughters  com- 
plained of  their  own  plain  clothes,  whilst  other  girls  of 
their  age  were  dressed  according  to  the  fashions.  "If 
there  is  any  good  in  you,"  replied  their  mother,  "  it  needs 
no  finery  to  show  it  off.  If  you  think  to  make  yourselves 


2O  Life  °f  Bishop  Neumann. 

something  by  wearing  fine  clothes,  you  clearly  show  that 
you  are  nothing." 

She  greatly  disliked  to  hear  the  faults  of  others  dis- 
cussed, and  if  any  one  so  far  forgot  himself  in  her  pres- 
ence as  to  lessen  the  good  reputation  of  his  neighbor, 
she  met  the  indiscreet  remarks  with  words  like  these: 
"  Such  talk  can  do  no  good.  We  all  have  our  fault  ,  and 
yet  God  is  so  patient  with  us." 

The  upright,  straightforward  principles  of  this  family 
failed  not  to  attract  the  attention  of  every  beholder. 
Mr.  Neumann  abhorred  flattery  and  deception.  His  in- 
structions to  his  sons  and  nephew  on  their  departure 
from  home  he  terminated  by  this  warning:  "  Beware  of 
flatterers!  The  flatterer  is  a  deceiver,  a  wily  thief  whose 
aim  is  to  obtain  something  from  you  to  your  detriment. 
Never  trust  a  flatterer!" 

The  above  brief  remarks  go  to  show  what  an  example 
John  Neumann  had  in  his  own  venerated  parents,  out- 
side of  whose  home  he  found  no  pleasure.  Let  us  now 
pass  on  to  our  proper  subject. 

Almighty  God  usually  surrounds  His  chosen  souls 
from  their  very  childhood  with  His  special  providence, 
and  endows  them  with  peculiar  aptitude  for  the  acquisi- 
tion of  virtue — a  fact  clearly  exhibited  in  the  subject  of 
this  biography.  The  child  was  not  yet  three  years  old, 
when  he  was  saved  by  some  invisible  influence  from  a 
fatal  accident.  He  fell  through  an  open  door  into  a  cel- 
lar fifteen  feet  deep  without  sustaining  the  least  injury. 
His  mother  always  felt  that  God  had  protected  her  child, 
and  she  frequently  recurred  to  the  fact  in  the  presence 
of  the  other  children,  to  stimulate  them  to  gratitude  to 
their  Creator,  and  confidence  in  the  divine  assistance. 

At  an  early  age,  the  Christian  virtues,  and  especially 
the  love  of  God,  sprang  up  in  the  heart  of  the  favored 
child.  His  fervor  in  attending  divine  service  was,  as  we 
have  already  remarked,  of  such  a  nature  that  he  was 
held  up  by  the  neighbors  as  a  model  to  their  children. 


Birthplace  and  Childhood.  21 

The  thought  of  sin  filled  him  with  alarm;  to  offend  God 
was  his  greatest  horror.  Only  once,  as  his  eldest  sister 
testifies,  was  he  punished  by  his  father,  and  that  was  for 
telling  an  untruth.  This  punishment  he  never  forgot. 
In  later  years  he  used  to  say,  "That  correction  did  me 
good,  for  I  never  after  told  a  lie."  When,  years  after,  he 
visited  his  native  city  as  Bishop  of  Philadelphia,  he 
again  thanked  his  father  for  that  long-remembered  pun- 
ishment. 

In  November,  1818,  at  the  age  of  seven,  John  began  to 
attend  the  city  school,  where,  for  the  next  six  years,  he 
was  always  the  same  gentle,  pious,  diligent  lad,  holding 
among  his  school-fellows  the  highest  rank  in  class.  Dur- 
ing his  first  year  at  school  an  incident  occurred  which 
though  apparently  trifling,  yet  shows  the  boy's  extraor- 
dinary conscientiousness.  His  little  five-year-old  sister 
begged  one  day  to  be  taken  to  school,  and  John  humored 
the  childish  whim.  But  when  he  saw  his  companions 
losing  time  in  chatting  and  amusing  themselves  with  the 
little  girl,  he  resolved  that  in  future  she  should  stay  at 
home.  "  I'll  not  take  you  to  school  any  more,"  said  he, 
on  their  way  home.  "  You  distract  the  scholars;  they  do 
not  attend  to  the  teacher." 

A  short  cut  through  the  city  square  led  from  his  home 
to  the  school.  But  when  John  found  that  it  was  a  rendez- 
vous for  mischievous  boys,  he  took  another  route  to  es- 
cape witnessing  their  noisy  games.  He  preferred  amus- 
ing himself  at  home  in  the  company  of  some  young 
companions  with  whom  his  parents  allowed  him  to  asso- 
ciate. 

The  Catechist  of  the  parish  church  speaks  of  him  in 
these  words:  "I  admired  John  Neumann  even  as  a  little 
boy.  When  I  looked  at  him  I  thought  of  what  is  written 
of  St.  John  the  Baptist:  'What  an  one,  think  ye,  shall 
this  child  be?'  (Luke  i.  66.)  He  was  always  so  gentle, 
so  good,  so  excellent  a  pupil,  that  by  my  advice,  even 
when  he  was  in  the  lowest  class,  his  teacher,  Mr.  Chlauda, 


22  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

appointed  him  monitor  of  the  new  scholars.  Later  on, 
in  the  upper  class,  I  gave  him  the  duty  of  correcting  his 
companions'  exercises.  The  task  of  tendering  public 
thanks  to  the  trustees,  and  of  making  the  address  to  his 
schoolmates,  usually  devolved  upon  him."  - 

He  was  nearly  always  monitor  over  the  other  boys, 
who  both  esteemed  and  loved  him  for  his  invariable 
justice  toward  them.  He  highly  appreciated  his  school- 
duties  ;  he  was  never  known  to  be  late,  and  he  never 
voluntarily  absented  himself.  If,  in  the  morning,  his 
parents  required  any  little  duty  or  errand  of  him,  he 
cheerfully  set  about  its  fulfilment,  mindful  all  the  while, 
however,  that  school-time  was  drawing  near. 

His  vocation  of  after-life  early  manifested  itself.  He 
erected  a  little  altar,  decorated  it  with  lights  and  flowers, 
and,  assisted  by  his  young  companions,  he  frequently 
"  said  Mass." 

During  his  last  year  at  school  he  was,  on  account  of 
his  modesty  and  recollectedness,  admitted  to  the  honor 
of  serving  in  the  sanctuary  of  the  parish  church.  So 
great  was  his  reverence  for  the  Holy  Sacrifice  that  he 
would  not  break  his  fast  before  serving,  even  at  High 
Mass. 

His  darling  inclination,  the  one  which  followed  him 
through  life,  which  gained  strength  as  years  rolled  on, 
was  an  intense  yearning  for  study  and  reading.  Books 
were  the  joy  of  his  heart.  His  parents  procured  him  a 
book-case  well  supplied  with  good  and  useful  matter  for 
his  perusal;  and  who  can  say  how  often  these  treasures 
were  handled,  their  leaves  turned  ?  This  was  the  boy's 
greatest  pleasure.  He  tells  us  in  his  journal :  "  From 
my  good  father,  who  well  knew  the  value  of  books,  I  had 
inherited  a  passion  for  reading.  Whilst  the  other  boys 
were  romping,  catching  birds,  etc.,  I  was  poring  over  my 
books.  My  mother  used  to  chide  me,  sometimes,  and 
call  me  book-mad,  a  bibliomaniac." 

Here  we  discover  in  the  boy  of  ten  or  twelve  that  thirst 


Birthplace  and  Childhood.  23 

for  learning  which  was  never  content  with  a  superficial 
knowledge  of  things.  He  dived  into  first  principles,  and 
not  unfrequently  his  abstruse  questioning  puzzled  both 
parents  and  teachers.  About  this  time  John  and  his 
little  brother  Wenceslaus  roomed  together.  One  night 
the  latter  ran  to  his  mother  complaining  that  John  would 
not  go  to  sleep.  The  mother  anxiously  arose  and  hur- 
ried to  see  if  anything  ailed  her  boy.  What  was  her 
indignation,  on  entering  the  room,  to  hear  her  young 
philosopher  propounding  to  her  the  question:  "Mother, 
how  is  it  that  our  earth  floats  in  the  air  without  falling?" 
"Let  it  float!  You  have  not  to  hold  it,"  was  the  curt 
answer.  "  God  takes  care  of  that.  All  you  have  to  do 
is  to  go  to  sleep  and  not  disturb  your  brother."  And 
the  obedient  boy  turned  on  his  pillow  to  follow  the 
maternal  injunction. 

The  education  of  his  heart  kept  pace  with  that  of  his 
mind.  His  neighbors'  woes  aroused  his  deepest  sympa- 
thy. Once  he  saw  a  poor  little  child  going  from  door  to 
door  with  a  bag  on  his  back.  His  heart  was  touched, 
and  in  his  childish  compassion  he  exclaimed,  "Oh,  if  I 
only  had  a  bag,  I  could  go  about  begging  with  the  poor 
boy,  and  then  he  would  get  more  !" 

He  could  never  be  induced  to  keep  for  himself  any 
little  present  he  might  receive.  Gifts  from  his  god- 
parents were  so  distributed  among  his  brother  and 
sisters  that  the  smallest  share  always  fell  to  himself  ;  and 
he  would  often  run  away  lest  a  larger  portion  would  be 
forced  upon  him. 

One  day  whilst  amusing  himself  with  several  com- 
panions at  a  game,  in  which  each  of  the  players  mentions 
what  he  desires  to  become  in  after-life,  John  was  the  only 
one  who  kept  silence.  His  mother,  who  was  quietly 
noticing  what  was  going  on,  questioned  her  boy  after- 
ward as  to  what  he  would  like  to  be.  "  Mother,"  he 
answered,  "  I  would  like  to  be  something,  if  it  did  not 
cost  so  much  money." 


24  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

We  shall  soon  see  that  God  so  ordained  that  money 
should  prove  no  obstacle  to  the  fulfilment  of  the  boy's 
pious  desires. 

It  is  customary  among  the  Bohemians  to  make  on 
some  occasions  three  small  crosses  on  the  forehead,  lips, 
and  heart,  respectively,  instead  of  the  large  Latin  cross. 
It  so  happened  that  one  day  at  table  John  inadvertently 
signed  himself  with  the  latter,  whereupon  an  old  maid- 
servant cried  out,  "  Look  at  little  John  !  he  wants  to  be 
a  priest !"  His  mother  often  adverted  to  this  appar- 
ently insignificant  circumstance  in  her  son's  presence, 
for  she  dearly  longed  to  see  him  enter  the  service 
of  God.  John's  secret  aspirations  seconded  his  good 
mother's  desires,  but  his  notions  of  the  dignity  of  the 
priesthood  were  so  elevated  that  he  believed  it  far 
above  his  efforts  to  attain. 

In  his  seventh  year  he  made  his  first  confession,  and  in 
his  ninth,  as  an  exceptional  favor,  he  was  permitted  to 
receive  the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation.  Scarcely  was 
he  ten  years  old  when  he  was  familiar  with  the  so-called 
Large  Catechism,  and  was  deemed  sufficiently  instructed 
to  receive  First  Communion  with  boys  two  years  his 
senior.  From  this  period  his  fervent  piety  made  him 
long  for  the  Bread  of  Angels,  and  he  communicated  as 
often  as  his  confessor  permitted.  In  after-life  he  some- 
times reverted  to  the  care  with  which  he  prepared 
for  Holy  Communion  in  those  innocent  childhood 
days. 

The  good  old  Catholic  custom  of  teaching  Latin,  during 
their  last  year  at  school,  to  those  boys  who  intended  to 
pursue  the  study  of  the  sciences  still  existed  in  his  native 
place.  When  John  was  asked  whether  he  too  did  not 
wish  to  study  Latin,  the  boy  at  first  hesitated  to  speak 
his  mind  on  the  subject,  lest  he  might  afterward  prove  a 
burden  to  his  family.  The  Catechist,  however,  soon 
calmed  his  fears,  his  parents'  consent  was  obtained,  and 
from  that  time  forward,  with  ten  or  twelve  others,  he 


Birthplace  and  Childhood.  25 

daily   spent   a  considerable    time   in    the  study  of   the 
classics. 

Whilst  still  a  boy  he  evinced  great  love  for  the  beauties 
and  wonders  of  nature.  His  leisure  moments  were  spent 
in  the  garden  of  the  Catechist,  where  he  loved  to  work 
among  the  flowers.  Here  he  began  the  study  of  botany, 
in  which  he  afterward  became  so  proficient  that  even  at 
the  present  day  we  may  marvel  at  the  advance  he  made 
in  it. 


26  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER   II. 
Student-Life. 

AT  twelve  years  old  John  was  ready  to  enter  a  gym- 
nasium, and  it  was  decided  that  he  should  be  sent 
to  Budweis,  the  episcopal  see,  distant  one  day's  journey 
from  Prachatitz.  Toward  the  close  of  October,  1823, 
the  young  student  presented  himself  as  a  candidate  for 
examination,  through  which  he  passed  successfully.  In 
every  branch  he  received  the  note  "  Very  good,"  and  was 
found  worthy  of  admission  to  the  "  First  Class  with  dis- 
tinction." 

Again  we  meet  his  considerate  affection  for  his  parents. 
To  reduce  his  expenses  he  clubbed  with  three  other  stu- 
dents for  a  room,  an  arrangement  which  he  afterward 
regretted  when  he  found  himself  deprived  of  that  quiet 
and  seclusion  so  necessary  to  successful  study.  He  com- 
plained of  this  later,  and  to  it  attributed  the  little  head- 
way he  made  in  his  studies  during  his  first  two  years  at 
Budweis.  He  learned  very  little,  but  in  fact  he  had  lit- 
tle to  learn  at  the  time.  His  good  Catechist  must  have 
instructed  him  well,  since  he  so  readily  gained  admit- 
tance to  the  Third  Grade  of  the  gymnasium.  The  days 
of  his  childhood  had  flown  by  unclouded  and  happy, 
leaving  their  sweet  remembrance  to  brighten  after-years. 

But  now  Almighty  God,  who  had  great  designs  over 
the  pious  boy,  allowed  various  trials  and  annoyances  to 
cross  his  path;  not  yet  launched  into  life,  he  was  to  taste 
some  of  its  bitterness.  He  was  confided  to  the  care  of  a 
teacher  who  reflected  little  honor  on  his  calling.  Of  this 
period  John  writes  as  follows:  "We  had  for  professor  a 
very  old,  very  good-natured  man,  who  was  unfortunately 


Student-Life.  2  7 

addicted  to  liquor.  We  made,  as  may  be  imagined,  no 
progress  in  our  studies.  I  even  forgot  much  of  what 
the  Catechist  at  home  had  taught  me.  During  the  third 
year,  our  professor  came,  intoxicated  as  usual,  to  the 
examination  presided  over  by  the  Reverend  Superinten- 
dent. The  unfortunate  man  was  of  course  compelled  to 
withdraw.  He  soon  after  died  by  his  own  hand.  His 
successor  was  as  strict  as  he  was  learned,  and  wished  us 
to  crowd  into  six  months  the  studies  of  two  years  and  a 
half.  This  was,  however,  requiring  too  much  of  most  of 
the  pupils,  especially  as  we  had  contracted  habits  of  care- 
lessness under  his  predecessor.  The  result  was,  as 
might  be  expected,  that  many  of  them  remained  behind. 
I  was  even  more  dissatisfied  with  our  teacher  of  Chris- 
tian Doctrine.  He  was  the  very  personification  of  dry- 
ness  and  a  great  stickler  for  verbatim  recitations.  But, 
as  I  had  no  memory  for  words,  our  two  hours  of  religious 
instruction  became  very  irksome  to  me." 

John  Neumann  soon  suffered  the  consequences  of  this 
faulty  method  of  teaching.  At  the  close  of  his  fourth 
scholastic  year  he  returned  home  worn  out  in  body  and 
mind.  His  friends  noticed  with  regret  the  absence  of 
his  wonted  amiability  and  cheerfulness.  In  former  years 
he  had  at  once  produced  his  certificate  for  inspection; 
but  now  things  were  changed,  and  not  till  called  upon 
did  he  place  it  in  his  father's  hands.  With  a  heavy  heart 
he  awaited  the  paternal  comment,  for  in  two  branches, 
Latin  and  mathematics,  he  had  received  only  "  two." 
After  quietly  and  attentively  scanning  the  report,  Mr. 
Neumann  turned  to  his  son:  "  It  seems  that  you  are  no 
longer  interested  in  your  studies.  You  may  stay  at 
home  and  choose  a  trade" — stern  language  for  the  boy's 
tender  heart,  more  afflicted  at  his  parent's  disappoint- 
ment than  at  his  own  trials.  And  so  poor  John  actually 
resigned  himself  to  exchanging  his  books  for  the  tools  of 
a  workman.  .  Let  us  quote  his  own  words  on  the  subject. 
At  the  close  of  1827  he  writes:  "  I  was  thoroughly  dis- 


28  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

gusted  with  my  studies,  and  I  resolved  during  the  vaca- 
tion to  discontinue  them.  But  my  good  mother's  per- 
suasion, joined  to  that  of  my  brother  and  sisters,  finally 
overruled  my  objections.  Besides,  just  at  that  time  the 
study  of  the  humanities  had  grown  less  irksome  to  me, 
as  we  had  a  professor  who,  though  even  stricter  than  his 
predecessor,  yet  showed  some  consideration  for  us  poor 
boys."  These  words  disclose  the  real  cause  of  his  dis- 
couragement; for  John,  during  the  same  vacation, 
avowed  to  his  father,  after  long  deliberation,  that  he 
had  not  deserved  the  unfavorable  notes;  that  there  were 
outside  influences  bearing  upon  the  discouraging  result. 
Mr.  Neumann  immediately  spoke  to  the  Reverend  Dean 
and  to  a  professor  who  was  at  that  time  staying  at  Pra- 
chatitz.  Both  asked  for  an  interview  with  his  son.  After 
questioning  him  closely  in  the  branches  in  which  he  had 
failed,  they  unhesitatingly  advised  Mr.  Neumann  to  de- 
mand a  second  examination  for  his  son.  It  took  place, 
and  John  stood  it  most  successfully. 

When  the  new  term  began,  he  requested  to  be  allowed 
a  room  to  himself,  that  his  studies  might  be  pursued  in 
quiet.  The  first  three  years  he  passed  almost  unnoticed 
by  either  professors  or  schoolmates.  The  wish  to  live 
unknown  was  his  life-long  characteristic.  To  this  qual- 
ity, perhaps,  he  is  chiefly  indebted  for  his  progress  in 
the  sciences  and  his  growth  in  grace.  We  shall  soon 
have  opportunities  of  admiring  both. 

Rev.  Adalbert  Schmidt,  Spiritual  Director  of  the 
Episcopal  Theological  Seminary  at  Gratz,  was  John 
Neumann's  most  intimate  friend.  Concerning  those 
years  of  student-life  he  writes  as  follows:  "When  a  boy, 
not  yet  twelve  years  of  age,  I  became  acquainted  with 
John  Neumann  at  Budweis.  During  the  first  three  or 
four  years  we  entertained  friendly  relations  of  mutual 
respect,  though  we  were  not  intimate;  but  our  fourth  and 
fifth  scholastic  years  found  us  on  more  confidential  terms. 
We  used  to  study  and  walk  together.  John's  progress 


Student-Life.  29 

in  the  sciences  astonished  me  then,  and  arouses  my  ad- 
miration even  now  when  I  reflect  upon  it.  As  to  the 
labor  he  performed  and  the  answers  he  gave,  he  never 
advanced  beyond  the  middle  grade;  but  his  quiet  study 
probed  every  subject.  He  contrived  to  procure  books 
in  all  branches  of  learning,  and,  like  an  indefatigable  bee, 
he  laid  up  a  store  of  knowledge  for  future  use.  His  re- 
flections on  what  he  had  read  afforded  ample  matter 
for  conversation  during  our  rambles  after  study-hours. 
Summer  and  winter,  sunshine  or  storm,  we  traversed  the 
environs  of  Budweis  in  all  directions,  quite  forgetful  of 
aught  else  in  the  heat  of  our  discussions.  Neumann's 
conversation,  as  might  be  expected,  was  never  frivolous 
or  superficial;  his  learning  was  many-sided  and  thorough. 
He  was  well  versed  in  languages,  sacred  and  profane 
history,  geography,  geology,  and  poetry.  During  his 
philosophical  studies  he  occupied  himself  with  physics 
and  astronomy  also.  In  this  last-named  branch  two 
companions  shared  with  him  his  labors  and  successes, 
and  without  the  aid  of  a  teacher,  even  with  slender 
pecuniary  resources,  they  attained  an  extraordinary 
knowledge  of  the  heavenly  bodies  and  the  laws  by  which 
they  are  governed.  What  one  read  or  discovered  by 
investigation  was  enthusiastically  accepted  and  noted 
down  by  the  others.  Their  attainments  in  astronomy, 
if  we  consider  their  circumstances  and  their  little  leisure, 
we  must  designate  as  truly  splendid." 

We  here  subjoin  the  testimony  of  some  other  ecclesi- 
astics, former  schoolmates  of  John  Neumann.  They  all 
express  themselves  in  praise  of  their  illustrious  friend. 
The  Rev.  Dean  Iglauer,  born  at  Prachatitz,  writes:  "  I 
knew  John  Nepomucene  Neumann  when  I  was  a  boy.  I 
saw  a  good  deal  of  him  at  the  Budweis  gymnasium  and 
during  the  vacations  which  we  spent  in  our  native  place. 
As  a  boy  he  was  exceedingly  industrious.  He  was 
fond  of  drawing  and  natural  history.  He  had  an  excel- 
lent microscope,  and  in  his  study  of  created  things  he 


30  Life  of  Bishop  Neiimann. 

saw  and  admired  the  omnipotence  and  greatness  of  the 
Creator.  To  these  divine  attributes  he  frequently  drew 
the  attention  of  his  young  companions.  He  received  a 
solid  and  thorough  education,  and  was  well  versed  in  the 
classics." 

Rev.  Mr.  Laad,  another  of  his  schoolmates,  writes: 
"  It  is  a  pleasure  to  me  to  recall  that,  for  thirteen  years, 
I  was  a  fellow-student  of  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Neu- 
mann. Born  in  the  little  city  of  Walschbirken,  about 
two  hours'  walk  from  Prachatitz,  I  met  the  deceased  at 
the  city  school  of  the  latter  place,  to  which  my  parents 
had  sent  me,  and  I  was  not  separated  from  him  till  the 
year  1836.  The  school  at  Prachatitz  enjoyed  a  high 
reputation,  especially  under  the  management  of  Rev. 
Peter  Schmidt,  Director  at  that  time.  .  .  .  John  Neu- 
mann was  endowed  with  superior  mental  gifts.  He 
was  also  a  hard-working  student.  I  never  saw  him  idle; 
he  even  took  his  walks  book  in  hand.  The  branches 
discussed  in  the  class-room  were  not  the  only  ones  that 
occupied  his  attention.  He  found  time  for  other  useful 
pursuits,  among  them  the  study  of  languages,  to  which 
he  early  devoted  himself.  In  the  lowest  class  of  the 
gymnasium  he  began  Italian;  in  the  upper  class,  French 
was  his  favorite.  During  his  course  of  philosophy  I 
remarked  some  Protestant  books  in  his  room;  but  I  soon 
found  that  he  read  them  only  to  discover  in  what  they 
differed  from  the  truth,  to  be  able  to  refute  their  errors, 
and,  above  all,  to  strengthen  more  and  more  his  attach- 
ment to  the  true  faith." 

Rev.  Father  Krbecek  testifies  as  follows:  "  I  studied 
at  the  gymnasium  at  Pisek,  and  so  became  acquainted 
with  John  Neumann  only  in  the  class  of  philosophy.  I 
noticed  how  well  he  employed  his  time.  We  used  often 
to  walk  together  after  school-hours.  Sometimes  I 
brought  my  little  scholars  to  see  him.  He  always  gave 
us  a  cordial  welcome,  and  to  my  boys  a  treat  of  nice 
white  home-made  bread  out  of  the  large  chest  that  stood 


Student- Life.  31 

in  his  room.  Then  he  let  the  little  fellows  play  on  his 
zithern,  showed  them  his  microscope,  and  laughed  heart- 
ily at  their  exclamations  of  amazement.  Their  eagerness 
to  see  his  wonders  made  them  push  and  jostle  one  an- 
other, sometimes,  to  his  great  amusement.  Once  I  ac- 
costed him  with,  'Well,  what  progress  have  you  made 
to-day?'  'You  mean  in  Littrov  ? '  *  he  answered,  and 
at  once  set  about  giving  me  the  results  of  his  careful 
experiments,  calculations,  etc.  I  became  greatly  inter- 
ested in  the  study,  especially  after  he  had  pointed  out 
to  me,  one  night,  the  different  constellations.  One 
evening  in  autumn  we  were  standing  together  with 
our  telescope  viewing  the  heavens,  when  a  soldier  pass- 
ing by  exclaimed,  '  What  ill-mannered  people  to 
smoke  so  late  ! '  'Oh!'  we  cried,  'come  closer  and  look 
at  this."  He  did  so,  and  said,  'Ah!  that's  something 
else!  You  are  not  so  ill-mannered,  after  all.'  Neumann 
was  greatly  amused.  I  never  look  at  the  starry  heavens 
now  without  a  grateful  remembrance  of  my  dear  friend. 

"  On  another  occasion  we  were  trying  to  prove  a  the- 
orem, but  could  not  succeed.  Neumann  went  to  the 
professor  of  mathematics,  and  asked  for  an  explanation; 
but  all  the  information  he  received  was,  '  I  never  came 
across  such  a  thing  before  !  '  Upon  this,  he  returned 
courageously  to  the  task,  and  on  the  following  day 
showed  us  the  proper  solution  of  the  problem.  He 
labored  unremittingly.  It  would  seem  that  he  had  laid 
down  for  himself  the  rule  never  to  rest. 

"  One  day  as  I  entered  his  room  to  invite  him  to  a  walk, 
he  closed  his  book  in  a  serious  mood.  I  ventured  to 
take  it  up,  and  found  it  an  Italian  grammar.  I  expressed 
my  admiration  for  that  beautiful  language,  whereupon 
he  offered  to  instruct  me  in  it  if  I  would  give  him 
lessons  in  Czech.  We  mutually  promised  to  do  so,  and 
during  the  vacation  we  gave  each  other  lessons  and 

*  Astronomy  (Littrov's). 


32  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

corresponded  in  Czech  and  Italian.  In  this  way  we  be- 
came quite  proficient  in  those  tongues.  When,  years 
after,  he  visited  us  as  Bishop  Neumann,  he  gratefully 
told  me  what  benefit  the  Bohemian  language  had  been 
to  him  in  America,  since  by  its  aid  he  was  able  to  mas- 
ter other  Slavic  dialects.  His  active  mind  was  ever  in 
search  of  solid  information.  He  disliked  nothing  so 
much  as  want  of  depth;  a  thorough  insight  into  what- 
ever he  undertook  alone  satisfied  him.  Although  natu- 
rally reticent,  he  knew  how  to  give  clear  and  satisfactory 
explanations  when  called  upon." 

In  the  Bishop's  journal  we  find  the  above  statements 
corroborated  by  himself:  "During  our  two  years  of 
philosophy  many  changes  took  place  in  my  surround- 
ings. There  were  at  least  a  dozen  students  who 
showed  great  aptitude  for  the  different  sciences.  We 
employed  all  our  free  time,  even  our  days  of  recreation, 
in  communicating  to  one  another  what  we  had  acquired, 
each  in  his  separate  department  of  learning.  While 
improving  ourselves  in  this  way,  we  were  greatly  assisted 
by  the  good  Cistercians,  our  teachers  in  philosophy. 
They  received  us  kindly  and  answered  all  our  questions 
satisfactorily.  These  good  Fathers  ever  showed  them- 
selves stern  enemies  of  deceit  or  ill-will.  During  these 
two  years  I  followed  perhaps  a  little  too  much  my  in- 
clination for  the  natural  sciences.  Natural  history, 
geography,  physics,  geology,  astronomy  kept  me  busy, 
whilst  algebra,  geometry,  trigonometry,  which  I  had 
formerly  disliked,  were  now  my  favorite  studies."  John 
seemed  to  possess  the  art  of  finding  persons  suitable  to 
give  him  assistance  in  the  commencement  of  any  new 
branch.  In  Joseph  Jiittner,  Artillery  Commander,  he 
found  a  friend  who  gladly  instructed  him  in  higher 
mathematics.  His  thirst  for  secular  knowledge  did  not, 
however,  lead  him  to  neglect  the  sacred  sciences,  nor  did 
his  demeanor  become  gloomy  or  repellent  from  close 
application  to  study.  His  companions  remember  him  as 


Student-Life.  33 

invariably  bright  and  cheerful,  not  unfrequently  surpris- 
ing them  by  his  modest  but  clever  display  of  wit. 

On  the  summit  of  Mount  Libin,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Prachatitz,  stands  a  chapel  dedicated  to  "  The  Patri- 
arch," and  which  contains  a  large  picture  of  St.  Philip 
Neri.  Neumann  visited  this  chapel  once  with  some  of  his 
young  friends,  one  of  whom  inquired  what  patriarch  it 
was  who  was  there  venerated,  Abraham,  Isaac,  or  Jacob. 
John  smiled  and  said,  "  Why,  there  are  patriarchs  in 
Europe.  This  is  St.  Philip  Neri,  the  founder  of  an  Order, 
and  one  who  has  as  much  right  to  the  title  of  patriarch 
as  St.  Benedict,  St.  Francis,  St.  Dominic,  and  others." 
Then  his  friend  remarked  that  Philip  is  derived  from 
the  Greek  and  means  a  lover  of  horses;  to  which  John 
laughingly  replied,  "  Indeed,  you  are  Greek  with  a  ven- 
geance!" 

After  a  certain  tedious  examination  in  history,  John 
began  to  skip  about  and  shake  his  head,  as  if  to  shake 
something  out  of  it.  His  companion,  astonished  at  so 
unusual  a  demonstration,  inquired,  "  What  is  the  matter? 
Is  there  water  in  your  ears  ?"  "  No,"  was  the  laughing 
rejoinder,  "but  I  want  to  get  rid  of  that  hard-studied 
history." 

The  students  of  that  period  were  required  to  learn 
verbatim  a  history  impregnated  with  the  errors  of  Jo- 
sephism.  This  was  a  task  highly  repugnant  to  our  young 
scholar.  He  studied  the  Holy  Scriptures,  also,  at  this 
time,  and  set  a  high  value  on  the  apologetic  method  so 
well  calculated  to  refute  the  errors  of  Protestantism. 
On  one  occasion  he  said:  "  Protestants  allege  that  we 
Catholics  change  the  passage  hareticum  devita  and  write 
the  word  devita  in  two  words  thus,  de  vita;  for,  as  they 
say,  it  was  on  account  of  this  word  that  Huss  and  his 
adherents  were  condemned  to  death  by  the  secular  au- 
thority. Have  these  gentlemen  so  slight  a  knowledge  of 
Latin  ?" 

John  was  most  considerate  in  his  behavior  toward  his 


34  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

fellow-students.  Once  during  vacation  they  had  made 
arrangements  for  a  ball.  Our  young  friend,  not  wishing 
to  offend  any  by  a  refusal  to  attend,  withdrew  during 
the  dancing  to  the  refreshment-room,  where  he  zealously 
attended  to  the  wants  of  all  who  presented  themselves. 
Next  morning  one  of  the  students  twitted  him  on  his  not 
joining  in  the  dance,  when  John  laughingly  compared 
himself  to  Saul  taking  care  of  the  garments  of  the  Jews 
while  they  stoned  St.  Stephen.  His  studies  proved  no 
hindrance  to  the  care  of  his  soul.  His  most  earnest  aim 
was  to  become  daily  more  pleasing  to  God.  At  the  early 
age  of  sixteen  he  already  understood  that  mortification 
of  the  senses  is  absolutely  necessary  for  advancement  in 
virtue. 

He  was,  therefore,  scrupulously  careful  to  mortify  his 
senses  and  chastise  his  body.  In  childhood  we  meet  with 
mortifications  that  betoken  an  extraordinary  spirit  of 
self-denial,  surpassing  the  natural  powers  of  tender  age. 
In  his  sixteenth  year  he  took  but  one  meal  a  day,  his 
breakfast  and  supper  consisting  of  only  a  piece  of  dry 
bread.  A  fellow-student  who,  on  account  of  family 
affairs,  was  compelled  to  give  up  his  studies  writes  of 
him  as  follows:  "  As  a  mere  boy,  I  admired  in  Neumann 
his  remarkable  strength  of  character,  his  perseverance, 
his  resolute  will  in  mortifying  himself,  a  disposition 
which  increased  with  years.  I  remarked  in  him  a  spirit 
of  self-control  and  self-denial.  He  was  always  ready  to 
sacrifice  even  the  most  lawful  worldly  pleasures  to  spirit- 
ual ones.  When,  in  the  fourth  year  of  my  studies,  I  was 
obliged  to  discontinue  them  on  account  of  ill-health  and 
certain  family  reasons,  he  wrote  me  in  so  consoling  a 
strain  that  I  was  encouraged  to  support  the  trial  with 
resignation.  Whilst  others  aggravated  my  troubles  by 
urging  me  to  continue  my  studies  in  spite  of  all  difficul- 
ties, from  him  alone  I  received  consolation.  He  constant- 
ly wrote  me  letters  full  of  piety  and  encouragement." 

Another  fellow-student  renders  the  following  beautiful 


Student-L  ife.  3  5 

testimony  of  him:  "Heart  and  mind  were  benefited  by 
intercourse  with  John  Neumann,  though  the  impression 
produced  was  wholly  involuntary  on  his  part.  The 
principal  trait  of  his  beautiful  character  was  his  unassum- 
ing, childlike  piety.  Obliging  in  his  demeanor,  ever 
ready  to  perform  an  act  of  kindness,  he  was  at  that  time 
at  which  I  knew  him  a  pious  student,  living  only  for  God 
and  for  his  studies;  a  youth  according  to  God's  own 
heart."  Selfishness  formed  no  part  of  John  Neumann's 
character.  To  help  one  to  advance  in  the  love  of  God 
gave  real  joy  to  his  heart. 

"  One  day  I  went  to  see  him,"  a  fellow-student  writes, 
"and  found  lying  on  his  table  a  small  Latin  book.  I 
opened  it,  and  was  deeply  affected  by  the  very  first  lin.es. 
It  was  a  copy  of  Thomas  d  Kempis,  of  whom  I  had  never 
heard  before.  Seeing  my  interest  aroused  by  the  little 
volume,  he  at  once  offered  me  the  use  of  it.  This  inci- 
dent contributed  not  a  little  to  strengthen  and  spiritualize 
our  friendship.  On  another  occasion  I  noticed  in  his 
room  two  small  volumes,  of  which  he  made  me  a  present. 
They  were  Louis  of  Grenada's  '  Sinner's  Guide.' " 

We  would  fear  fatiguing  our  readers  were  we  to  insert 
the  many  beautiful  and  edifying  communications  received 
from  his  fellow-students.  We  cannot,  however,  omit 
that  of  his  most  intimate  friend,  who  writes:  "  Even  now 
I  dwell  with  pleasure  upon  that  time  when  we  were  but 
one  heart  and  one  soul.  On  the  paths  which  Neumann 
trod  in  childhood  and  in  youth  was  met  only  disinterest- 
edness. Those  worldly  goods  and  advantages  which 
others  eagerly  crave  possessed  no  charm  for  him;  they 
proved  no  snare  for  him,  they  gained  no  hold  on  his 
affections.  Toward  his  fellow-students  he  was  affability 
itself,  a  model  of  true  fraternal  charity.  He  was  always 
ready  to  lend  his  books  and  manuscripts,  or  give  assist- 
ance to  students  who  were  backward  in  their  studies. 
His  manner  on  such  occasions  was  marked  by  the  most 
charming  willingness  to  be  of  service;  no  shade  of  osten- 


36  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

tation  could  be  observed  in  him.  His  life  was  one  of 
great  mortification.  True,  he  practised  no  unusual  pen- 
ances at  the  time,  but  his  whole  life  was  one  of  self-de- 
nial. He  never  visited  saloons  or  theatres,  never  indulged 
in  games  for  money,  though  sometimes,  for  recreation, 
he  would  take  part  in  the  amusements  of  his  compan- 
ions. In  his  food  he  was  not  hard  to  please.  He  never 
tasted  liquor.  A  glass  of  beer,  at  most,  was  all  he  allowed 
himself  when  setting  out  on  a  long  journey  on  foot. 
Heat  and  cold,  rain  and  storm,  were  all  the  same  to  him, 
and  by  their  patient  endurance  he  added  new  vigor  to 
his  naturally  strong  constitution.  Vanity,  hidden  under 
a  thousand  forms,  often  attacks,  to  their  incalculable  in- 
jury, the  intellect  of  the  most  promising  youth.  But  in 
the  heart  of  Neumann  were  found,  in  its  stead,  only  mod- 
esty and  humility.  Unlike  other  young  men  of  his  age 
and  talents,  he  never  made  any  display  of  his  learning, 
never  boasted  of  his  feats  of  courage  and  daring.  His 
dress  was  plain  and  betrayed  no  attempt  at  prevailing 
fashions.  Calm  deliberation  reigned  in  all  his  actions. 
His  memory  was  retentive;  his  imagination  lively,  but 
always  under  the  dominion  of  his  cool,  correct  judgment. 
From  extravagant  enthusiasm  he  was  quite  free.  With 
him  all  things  were  regulated  by  weight  and  measure. 
Modest  and  cautious  in  speech  and  action,  one  could 
readily  detect  in  him  the  well-ordered  mind.  His  calm 
and  prudent  deliberation  was  his  shield  against  undue 
excitement  or  outbursts  of  passion;  a  fact  which  ren- 
dered intercourse  with  him  easy  and  pleasant." 

We  have  now  followed  John  Neumann  to  his  twentieth 
year.  May  we  not,  from  all  we  have  learned  of  him, 
conclude  that  the  dangerous  period  of  youth  had  cast  no 
stain  on  his  baptismal  innocence  ?  His  love  for  God,  his 
humility  and  mortification — virtues  necessary  for  the 
preservation  of  purity — secured  to  him  that  precious 
treasure.  Like  three  stanch  bulwarks,  they  enclosed 
his  innocent  heart.  His  intimate  friends  admired  his 


Student-Life.  37 

modesty,  and  his  fellow-students  unanimously  concur  in 
testifying  that  from  his  lips  even  an  equivocal  word 
never  issued.  Until  he  began  his  theological  course  he 
lodged  at  the  house  of  a  widow,  whose  daughter  received 
the  addresses  of  her  affianced  a  long  time  previously  to 
marriage.  One  of  his  friends  said  to  him:  "  Do  not  the 
frequent  visits  of  that  girl's  lover  annoy  you  ?  Is  she  not 
herself  a  subject  of  distraction  to  you  ?"  John  answered: 
"  Not  at  all.  That  girl  occupies  my  thoughts  no  more 
than  any  other  woman.  To  me  they  are  all  beautifully 
bound  books  which  I  know  not  how  to  read."  The  same 
friend  tells  us:  '•  In  his  love  for  the  holy  virtue,  John 
Neumann  shone  a  model  for  all.  His  whole  demeanor 
was  modest;  his  glance  never  rested  on  dangerous  ob- 
jects. He  never  jested  with  females,  nay,  I  am  certain 
that  he  never  exchanged  a  useless  word  with  any  one  of 
them.  When  questioned,  he  answered,  and  that  was  all. 
Not  even  under  the  pretext  of  piety  or  edification  did  he 
lay  aside  his  reserve  in  his  communications  with  the  op- 
posite sex.  Few  knew  the  nobility,  the  elevation  of  Neu- 
mann's soul.  He  was  a  diamond  which  from  lack  of 
outward  polish  was  all  the  more  precious  in  the  sight  of 
God,  all  the  dearer  to  those  privileged  ones  who  enjoyed 
his  friendship."  The  reminiscences  of  another  friend  end 
with  these  words:  "  The  more  deeply  versed  in  human 
nature  were  our  professors,  the  more  able,  just,  and  pious, 
the  more  was  Neumann  respected  and  honored  by 
them." 

Another  dangerous  rock  against  which  many  young 
men  suffer  shipwreck  John  Neumann  carefully  avoided, 
viz.,  the  neglect  of  the  Sacraments.  In  those  early  years 
he  often  approached  the  Heavenly  Banquet,  for  which 
he  prepared  with  extraordinary  care.  "  I  aimed  most 
especially,"  he  says  of  himself  in  the  sketch  of  his  life, 
"at  deriving  the  greatest  possible  benefit  from  Holy 
Communion.  The  recollection  of  the  piety  that  reigned 
in  my  father's  house,  of  the  devotion  with  which  my 


38  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

mother  prepared  for  Holy  Communion,  was  for  me 
the  best  guide.  I  was  thus  protected  from  those  dan- 
gers and  sins  which  cause  the  ruin  of  so  many  souls.  I 
heard  Mass  daily,  and  never  neglected  my  evening  visit 
to  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament.  This  was  the  pious  cus- 
tom of  many  of  my  fellow-students." 


The  Seminary  at  Budweis. 


CHAPTER  III. 
The  Seminary  at  Budweis. 

WE  have  seen  that  John  Neumann  in  the  course  of 
his  studies  was  in  danger  of  losing  his  vocation, 
not  indeed  by  his  own  fault,  but  through  unfair  treat- 
ment on  the  part  of  his  professors.  Almighty  God,  how- 
ever, who  had  marked  out  for  him  a  very  high  destiny, 
had  regard  to  the  uprightness  of  his  intentions,  and 
made  use  of  the  pious  mother  to  protect  the  docile  son. 
After  eight  years  of  diligent  study  he  completed  his 
classical  and  philosophical  course,  obtaining  to  his  own 
and  his  parents'  satisfaction  the  highest  testimonials  of 
exemplary  diligence  and  irreproachable  conduct.  The 
joy  of  his  friends  was  further  enhanced  by  the  thought 
that  in  four  years  more  he  would  leave  the  theological 
seminary  a  priest.  But  a  great  and  unlooked-for  trial 
was  in  store  for  the  young  graduate.  The  youth  so 
highly  privileged  by  God,  who  had  been  marked  out, 
even  in  early  boyhood,  for  the  clerical  state,  must  now 
prove  that  vocation  and  strengthen  his  natural  inclina- 
tion to  virtue.  The  Christian  mother,  ever  watchful 
over  her  boy's  interests,  was  still  to  be  the  guiding  star 
to  light  him  on  to  his  high  destiny.  We  cannot  but  re- 
joice in  beholding  young  Neumann  following,  despite  all 
obstacles,  the  path  marked  out  for  him  by  Divine  Provi- 
dence. With  the  docility  of  a  child  he  allowed  himself 
to  be  led  by  the  hand  of  his  Heavenly  Father.  In  his 
autobiography  he  speaks  as  follows:  "When,  at  the 
close  of  my  philosophical  course,  I  had  to  make  choice 
of  theology,  jurisprudence,  or  medicine,  an  incident  oc- 
curred which  made  me  incline  toward  the  last-named. 
Out  of  eighty  or  ninety  applicants  for  theology  but 


4O  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

twenty  were  to  be  accepted,  and  that  only  on  the  best 
testimonials,  the  highest  recommendations.  Now,  this 
offering  of  recommendations  for  such  a  purpose  I  re- 
garded as  an  innovation;  consequently  I  would  use  no 
effort  to  obtain  them.  In  this  uncertainty  as  to  the 
choice  of  a  profession,  I  arrived  home  in  the  autumn 
holiday  of  that  year,  and  found  to  my  surprise  that  my 
father  was  not  disinclined  to  my  going  to  Prague  for  the 
study  of  medicine,  although  such  a  step  would  entail 
considerable  expense.  My  mother,  however,  was  quite 
dissatisfied  with  the  arrangement;  the  very  thought  of  it 
saddened  her.  I  represented  to  her  my  inability  to  pro- 
cure recommendations,  as  I  was  not  acquainted  with  any 
prominent  personages.  But  she  would  not  listen  to 
such  reasoning.  She  urged  me  to  send  a  petition  to  the 
Episcopal  Consistory,  saying  that  God  would  help  me. 
In  compliance  with  her  wish  I  drew  up  a  petition  for 
admission,  and  sent  it  by  a  special  messenger  to  the 
Council.  Without  recommendations,  simply  at  my  own 
request,  I  was  admitted  to  the  seminary,  and  from  that 
moment  the  temptation  to  devote  myself  to  the  study 
of  medicine  disappeared.  Even  my  favorite  pursuits, 
physics,  astronomy,  etc.,  I  gave  up  almost  entirely  and 
without  regret." 

Thus  did  God  reward  Neumann's  childlike  obedience. 
But  the  evil  spirit,  not  discouraged  by  the  failure  of  his 
plans,  approached  the  youth  with  other  temptations,  and 
sought  to  seduce  him  by  earthly  joys.  The  children  of 
the  world,  under  the  mask  of  friendship,  tried  to  dissuade 
him  from  choosing  the  clerical  state,  a  state  fraught  with 
pain,  void  of  pleasure.  Let  him,  they  said,  employ  his 
talents  and  acquirements  for  the  world,  which  alone 
holds  out  prospects  of  a  position  of  ease,  honor,  and 
happiness.  But  these  and  kindred  illusions  had  no 
other  effect  upon  him  than  to  call  up  a  smile.  Enlight- 
ened from  on  high,  he  understood  the  vanity  of  the  tran- 
sient things  of  earth. 


The  Seminary  at  Budweis.  41 

On  All-Saints,  1831,  Neumann  began  the  study  of 
the  sacred  sciences.  The  seminary  was  small  and  could 
accommodate  only  the  alumni  of  the  last  two  years' 
theological  course;  so  Neumann  during  his  first  two 
years  had  lodgings  in  a  private  family. 

And  now  his  soul,  thirsting  for  knowledge,  drank 
deep  draughts  from  the  clear  fountains  of  theology;  his 
zeal  for  study  increased.  The  natural  sciences  were  still 
pursued,  but  only  as  secondary  objects;  for,  following 
the  dictates  of  conscience,  he  applied  first  of  all  to  what 
he  knew  to  be  of  obligation.  Hence  his  efforts  were 
crowned  with  success,  and  his  professors  praised  his 
diligence.  That  they  were  pleased  with  his  progress 
may  be  gleaned  from  the  fact  of  his  being  allowed  to 
engage  in  other  studies.  He  tells  us  in  his  journal: 
"My  favorite  occupation  during  my  first  year  of  theology 
was  the  study  of  the  Old  Testament,  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory, Hebrew,  etc.,  which  afterward  proved  of  incalcu- 
lable benefit  to  me.  My  professors  encouraged  me,  and, 
to  their  credit  be  it  said,  they  all  had,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one  who  was  inclined  to  Josephism,  a  good  spirit; 
they  were  stanch  adherents  of  Holy  Church.  They 
were,  also,  competent  instructors.  With  great  facility 
and  in  a  short  time  one  might  acquire  under  their  direc- 
tion much  useful  and  practical  information." 

That  his  superiors  were  satisfied  with  their  young 
student  is  also  clearly  manifest  in  the  fact  of  their  per- 
mitting him  in  his  first  year  of  theology,  July  21,  1832, 
to  receive  the  tonsure  and  minor  orders. 

A  fellow-student,  speaking  of  this  period,  says:  "His 
acquirements  in  every  theological  department  were  thor- 
ough and  comprehensive.  The  Holy  Scriptures  were  his 
daily  bread.  He  had  a  copy  of  the  Vulgate  in  several 
small  volumes.  No  fact  of  the  Old  Testament,  no  bibli- 
cal character,  was  unfamiliar  to  him;  there  was  no  pas- 
sage of  Scripture  that  he  could  not  quote.  The  students 
used  to  amuse  themselves  in  cross-questioning  one 


42  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

another  on  dates,  localities,  personages,  facts  mentioned 
in  the  Bible,  upon  which  they  raised  objections,  debated 
on  the  proper  application  of  different  passages — in  a 
word,  engaged  in  animated  discussions.  Their  enthusiasm 
was  enkindled  by  Professor  Koerner's  practical  explana- 
tions of  the  Sacred  Text.  In  these  discussions  Neumann 
showed  himself  fully  equipped  for  every  encounter, 
ready  for  any  question  that  might  be  proposed.  By 
such  practices  his  stock  of  knowledge  increased  like  a 
stream  swollen  in  its  course  by  the  inflowing  of  many 
tributaries.  But  with  it  all  he  was  ever  the  modest,  re- 
tiring youth,  aiming  only  at  the  acquisition,  not  at  the 
display,  of  learning." 

Behold  another  communication  from  one  of  his  con- 
temporaries: "  Neumann  sustained,  in  Budweis,  a  theo- 
logical discussion  of  several  hours  with  the  Professor  of 
Moral  Theology,  a  man  justly  esteemed  the  most  able  in 
the  seminary.  At  the  close  of  the  disputation  the  pro- 
fessor remarked:  '  Had  a  stenographer  taken  down 
Neumann's  defence,  any  theological  journal  might  insert 
it  in  its  columns.'  Next  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  dog- 
matic theology  was  his  favorite  study.  He  had  a  copy 
of  Peter  Canisius'  "  Summa  Doctrinae  Christianae,"  with 
notes,  which  he  studied  until  he  made  it  entirely  his 
own.  In  questions  involving  an  explanation  of  some 
scriptural  text  the  students  unanimously  appealed  to 
him;  for  he  either  knew  it  by  heart  or  could  point  to 
the  page  on  which  the  solution  might  be  found." 

At  the  beginning  of  his  second  year  of  theology  the 
designs  of  Almighty  God  over  young  Neumann  became 
more  manifest;  he  was  gradually  being  prepared  for  his 
high  vocation.  Grace  illumined  his  intellect  and  inflamed 
his  heart.  He  understood  that  he  was  called  to  labor  at 
the  salvation  of  souls  in  the  far-off  regions  of  America. 
He  lent  an  attentive  ear  to  the  voice  of  God;  his  noble 
and  generous  soul  responded  to  the  call  of  grace.  The 
Professor  of  Holy  Scripture,  Rev.  Father  Koerner,  to 


The  Seminary  at  Budweis.  43 

rouse  in  his  pupils  a  love  for  the  study  of  the  Bible,  was 
accustomed  to  speak  in  enthusiastic  terms  of  the  Apostle 
to  the  Gentiles.  In  glowing  words  he  depicted  his  labors 
and  sufferings  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of 
souls. 

It  so  happened  that  one  of  John's  friends,  fired  with 
the  desire  of  imitating  the  Apostle,  and  his  attention  being 
directed  by  the  reports  of  the  St.  Leopold  Society  to  the 
vast  field  offered  the  missionary  in  America,  resolved  to 
devote  himself  to  that  work.  He  soon  made  known  his 
resolution  to  Neumann.  The  latter,  to  prove  his  friend's 
earnestness,  bantered  him  a  little  on  the  subject.  But  no 
long  time  elapsed  before  he,  too,  expressed  his  deter- 
mination to  accompany  him.  "  Do  you  know  that  I  am 
going  with  you  to  America  ?"  he  said  one  day.  "  Yes, 
such  is  my  fixed  intention." 

This  most  important  resolve  is  thus  noticed  in  his 
journal:  "In  my  second  year  of  theology  I  began  to  read 
the  annals  of  the  St.  Leopold  Society.  The  letters  from 
Rev.  Father  Baraga  and  other  German  missionaries  in 

North  America  charmed  me.  One  day,  as  G and  I 

were  walking  along  the  banks  of  the  Moldau,  the  thought 
came  to  us  to  set  out  for  America  as  soon  after  ordina- 
tion as  we  should  have  obtained  some  practical  knowl- 
edge of  our  priestly  duties.  We  invited  two  or  three  of 
our  fellow-students  to  take  part  in  our  enterprise;  but, 
though  admiring  our  resolution,  they  were  unwilling  to 
accompany  us.  I  suppose  it  was  not  their  vocation. 
From  that  day  my  resolution  was  so  firm,  my  desire  so 
lively,  that  I  could  think  of  nothing  else." 

Such  a  resolution  we  must  pronounce  grand  and 
heroic,  when  we  reflect  on  the  time  of  its  adoption  and 
weigh  well  the  circumstances  connected  with  it.  In  1833 
America  was  looked  upon  as  little  more  than  a  vast  wil- 
derness, a  land  of  privations,  sufferings,  and  persecu- 
tions, offering  to  the  missionary  no  other  prospect  than 
that  of  sacrificing  health  and  life  for  the  glory  of  God 


44  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

and  the  salvation  of  souls.  Bohemia  had  not  yet  sent 
out  its  priests,  its  young  seminarians  had  not  yet  crossed 
the  Atlantic,  and  the  fact  of  emigrating  to  America  as  a 
laborer  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord  was  thought  equiva- 
lent to  seeking  martyrdom.  Though  the  actual  state  of 
things  in  America  was  not  quite  so  bad,  still  there  ex- 
isted for  the  Catholic  missionary  many  hardships  and 
privations.  From  this  time  the  most  engrossing  thought 
of  the  two  young  friends  was  their  missionary  project 
and  the  means  of  carrying  it  out.  Prudence  demanded 
secrecy.  Their  plans  were  disclosed  to  only  a  few  special 
friends,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neumann  for  nearly  three 
years  had  no  suspicion  of  what  was  almost  exclusively 
occupying  their  son's  mind.  Henceforth  all  Neumann's 
aspirations  aimed  at  one  object — to  become  a  worthy 
and  efficient  missionary.  This  object,  he  thought,  could 
be  accomplished  only  by  courageous  self-denial,  by 
assiduous  prayer,  by  diligent  study,  and  unlimited  trust 
in  the  help  of  God. 

He  began  to  prosecute  his  studies  with  still  greater 
zeal,  and  to  devote  himself  to  prayer  with  such  fervor 
and  perseverance  that  both  students  and  professors 
looked  on  in  wonder. 

Young  Neumann  was  of  the  opinion  that  a  missionary 
should,  as  far  as  possible,  be  able  to  speak  all  living 
languages;  consequently  he  eagerly  sought  every  oppor- 
tunity to  perfect  himself  in  the  same.  The  right  to  allow 
some  of  his  seminarians  to  study  at  the  Archiepiscopal 
Seminary  at  Prague  had  been  conceded  to  the  Bishop; 
and,  as  the  students  of  this  institution  frequented  the 
university,  Neumann  hoped  that  there  he  would  find 
superior  advantages  for  acquiring  English  and  French. 
He  petitioned  for  a  transfer  to  the  Seminary  of  Prague, 
which  favor  was  readily  granted. 


At  the  Archiepiscopal  Seminary  of  Prague,  45 


CHAPTER  IV. 
At  the  Archiepiscopal  Seminary  of  Prague. 

JOHN  NEUMANN  left  the  seminary  at  Budweis  after 
two  years  of  successful  study,  and  went  to  Prague 
in  1833,  there  to  spend  two  years  more  in  theology.  Soon, 
however,  he  regretted  the  change.  "  The  Right  Rev. 
Bishop,"  he  says  in  his  journal,  "  permitted  me  to  leave 
Budweis  in  order  to  finish  my  studies  at  the  Archiepis- 
copal Seminary  of  Prague.  But  at  the  latter  place  I  met 
a  great  disappointment.  I  had  just  begun  to  visit  the 
French  school  at  the  Clementine,  when  an  order  was 
published  by  the  Archbishop  prohibiting  seminarians 
attending  the  lectures.  I  could  not  study  English,  for 
this  language  was  not  taught  at  the  university.  Nor 
was  I  satisfied  with  the  professors  of  dogmatic,  moral, 
and  pastoral  theology.  The  first  was  more  against  the 
Pope  than  for  him;  yet,  as  the  objections  which  he  ad- 
vanced were  most  absurd,  he  could  do  but  little  harm. 
The  second  was  too  philosophical  to  be  understood  by 
his  hearers.  The  third  was  a  thorough  Josephist.  I  had 
to  do  violence  to  myself  even  to  listen  to  them,  for  the 
absurdity  of  their  treatment  of  those  subjects  I  fully  un- 
derstood; much  less  could  I  accept  their  opinions,  which 
I  regarded  as  heterodox.  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that  in 
such  institutions  so  much  is  done  to  preserve  the  splen- 
dor of  learning  instead  of  diffusing  good  Catholic  and 
useful  knowledge.  I  was,  therefore,  heartily  glad  when, 
after  the  examinations,  I  was,  in  August,  1835,  allowed  to 
return  to  Budweis." 

Among  the  papers  written  at  that  time  by  Neumann 
we  find   a  dissertation    on  the   infallibility  of  the  Pope, 


46  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

which  point  he  defended  most  strenuously,  though  his 
professor  favored  the  views  of  Fabronius  and  the  Galli- 
cans.  This  paper  is  an  answer  to  a  former  fellow-student 
of  Budweis  who  asked  Neumann's  opinion  on  Papal  In- 
fallibility, which  at  that  time  was  not  an  article  of  faith. 
From  this  document  we  see  that  Neumann,  even  in  his 
third  year  of  theology,  set  forth  his  arguments  plainly  and 
solidly;  that  he  was  imbued  with  childlike  docility,  and 
that  his  judgments  in  questions  of  mere  opinion  were 
decided. 

As  we  have  gathered  from  Neumann's  own  words,  he 
hoped  to  find  at  the  University  of  Prague  an  opportu- 
nity of  perfecting  himself  in  French  and  English.  His 
disappointment -we  have  seen.  English  appeared  to  him 
indispensable  for  one  who  would  labor  successfully  as  a 
missionary  in  America,  and  now  he  had  no  other  re- 
source than  to  apply  to  these  languages  by  private  study. 
He  did  so,  and  attained  so  great  proficiency  that  all  who 
knew  him  were  astonished.  A  fellow-student  relates 
that,  at  the  close  of  the  school-term,  Neumann  ap- 
plied for  examination  in  French.  When  the  professor 
turned  to  him  with  the  words,  "  You  never  attended  my 
lectures,"  Neumann  replied  in  excellent  French  that  he 
had  studied  in  private  and  now  wished  to  be  examined. 
The  professor  admitted  him  to  examination,  from  which 
the  young  candidate  came  forth  with  the  certificate 
"  First  Class  with  distinction."  "  Every  theologian," 
Neumann  used  to  say,  "should  learn  French,  if  only 
through  respect  for  the  ascetic  and  theological  works 
written  in  that  language." 

English  also  engrossed  his  attention,  and,  in  his  eager- 
ness to  speak  it  correctly,  he  went  so  far  as  to  call  upon 
some  English  workmen  in  a  factory.  They  were  de- 
lighted with  the  student's  great  desire  to  learn  their  lan- 
guage, and  they  did  all  in  their  power  to  help  him  in  its 
attainment.  It  was  not  long  before  this  assistance  was 
unexpectedly  withdrawn,  and  he  was  again  thrown  on 


At  the  Archiepiscopal  Seminary  of  Prague.  47 

his  own  resources.  His  efforts,  however,  were  soon 
crowned  with  success,  as  his  aptitude  for  languages  was 
very  great.  His  journal  of  that  period  furnishes  us 
with  a  proof  of  this,  for  a  large  part  of  it  is  in  French 
and  much  of  it  in  English.  It  contains  but  few  errors 
in  the  construction  of  those  languages,  errors  which  are 
usually  overcome  only  after  long  and  continued  practice. 
He  had  begun  Italian  years  before  at  the  gymnasium, 
and  he  soon  made  such  progress  that  he  both  spoke  it 
and  wrote  it  with  ease.  He  loved  to  read  the  works  of 
St.  Alphonsus  in  Italian.*  He  made  numerous  extracts 
from  them,  some  of  which  we  find  among  his  papers. 
The  beautiful  work  entitled  "  The  Way  of  Salvation"  he 
translated  into  German  with  the  twofold  intention  of 
benefiting  himself  and  others.  It  was  published  by  Rev. 
Father  Dichtl.  He  afterward  mastered  Spanish,  in  which 
he  read  with  profit  the  works  of  St.  Teresa  and  the  letters 
of  St.  Francis  Xavier.  From  these,  also,  he  made  copious 
extracts.  At  the  time  of  his  theological  studies  they 
comprised  at  least  thirty-eight  books. 

The  study  of  Latin  and  of  Greek  was  obligatory  at  the 
gymnasium,  and  by  continued  practice  he  attained 
facility  in  the  use  of  both  languages,  as  his  journal  and 
scientific  treatises  on  different  subjects  testify.  Whilst 
at  the  seminary  he  undertook  the  study  of  modern 
Greek,  and  skilfully  translated  the  Greek  text  of  the 
Bible  into  three  and  even  four  modern  languages  at  one 
and  the  same  time.  In  his  fourth  year  of  theology  he 
turned  his  attention  to  Hebrew,  and  with  such  success 
that  he  was  soon  able  to  meet  every  difficulty  and  give 
clear  explanations  to  all  that  sought  his  aid.  Add  to 
these  his  own  native  tongues,  the  German  and  Bohe- 
mian, and  we  find  Neumann,  even  as  a  student,  familiar 
with  eight  languages. 

With  good  reason  could  he  make  the  following  asser- 

*  The  saint  at  that  time  had  not  yet  been  canonized. 


48  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

tion  in  a  letter  written  in  1834  to  his  family  :  "  If  I  do 
not  mistake,  it  is  Catherine's  turn  to  write  me  a  letter. 
Let  her  begin  very  soon.  The  letters  need  not  be  painted; 
as  I  am  familiar  with  eight  languages,  I  shall  undoubt- 
edly be  able  to  read  hers.  She  always  wrote  a  neat 
hand.  Let  her  set  to  work  at  once." 

It  will  not  be  a  matter  of  surprise  to  us  if,  with  so 
ardent  a  desire  for  knowledge,  young  Neumann  scarcely 
allowed  himself  sufficient  time  for  corporal  needs.  When 
at  home  in  vacation  he  not  unfrequently  had  his  book 
before  him  at  meals,  and  so  preoccupied  was  he  that  he 
forgot  to  eat.  When  addressed  by  his  parents  or  any 
other  member  of  the  family  he  was  often  at  a  loss  as  to 
the  subject  of  conversation,  and  for  this  he  received  many 
a  reproof. 

It  happened  once  that,  after  spending,  according  to 
custom,  the  greater  part  of  the  night  in  study,  all  around 
him  suddenly  grew  dark.  He  groped  for  the  candle  in 
order  to  relight  it,  but  scorched  his  hand  in  the  flame. 
The  light  was  still  burning,  but  his  sight  had  failed. 
The  strain  upon  his  eyes  had  been  too  great,  and  from 
that  time  he  was  forced  to  use  glasses. 

Neumann  understood  the  art  of  landscape-painting 
both  on  paper  and  glass,  and  great  was  his  delight  when 
able  to  present  one  of  his  own  productions  to  his  friends. 
He  displayed  some  talent  also  for  portrait-painting;  and 
several  excellent  pictures  of  his  friends  painted  by  him 
are  carefully  preserved  to  this  day,  treasured  memorials 
of  the  reverend  artist.  He  cared  not  to  have  his  own 
picture  taken,  and  to  the  entreaties  of  some  of  the 
students  to  that  effect  he  answered  that  it  was  sufficient 
for  him  to  be  remembered  in  their  prayers.  The  largest 
and  most  important  painting  he  has  left  us  is  a  faithful 
representation  of  his  native  city  and  its  environs.  With 
this  piece  of  genuine  art  is  associated  an  act  of  virtue 
far  more  valuable  than  the  picture  itself.  The  young 
artist  had  bent  perseveringly  over  his  work  during  an 


At  the  Archiepiscopal  Seminary  of  Prague.  49 

entire  vacation,  had  laid  on  such  colors  as  best  corre- 
sponded to  the  reality,  and  had  earnestly  watched  the 
effect  produced  by  each  new  touch  of  his  brush;  at  last 
the  work  was  completed,  to  the  great  admiration  of  the 
beholders.  Long  and  approvingly  did  they  gaze  upon 
it,  now  in  the  whole,  now  in  its  parts.  It  so  happened 
that,  in  his  too  great  eagerness,  one  of  its  most  sincere 
admirers  broke  the  glass  and  very  seriously  injured  the 
picture  itself.  Not  the  least  sign  of  anger  did  he  exhibit 
who  for  so  many  hours  had  devoted  time  and  skill  to  its 
perfection,  but,  stepping  quietly  forward,  he  gently  set 
about  protecting  his  work  from  further  accident.  As 
long  as  that  picture  exists,  the  marks  of  the  damage  it 
then  sustained  will  bear  evidence  to  John  Neumann's 
patience  and  self-control. 


50  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  V. 
His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian. 

LET  us  now  speak  of  the  interior  life  which   Neu- 
mann led  as  a  seminarian.     His  fellow-students 
have  recorded  many  beautiful  traits  of  his  piety.     His 

friend  A gives  us  the  following: 

"  Although  humility,  meekness,  and  mortification,  all 
the  virtues,  in  fact,  seemed  natural  to  him,  and  for  the 
same  reason  less  meritorious;  yet,  at  the  beginning  of 
the  year  1833,  when  he  knew  that  it  was  his  vocation  to 
become  a  missioner,  they  assumed  a  more  perfect  char- 
acter. To  his  lively  faith  was  joined  heart-felt  piety. 
Both  were  genuine;  he  knew  not  hypocrisy;  both 
sprang  from  the  depths  of  his  soul,  and  both  were  con- 
cealed as  much  as  possible  from  the  eyes  of  men.  No 
one  ever  remarked  in  John  Neumann  the  least  singu- 
larity, not  even  in  prayer.  He  entered  and  left  the 
church  at  the  specified  hour;  he  punctually  performed 
whatever  was  prescribed  for  all  the  faithful  in  general; 
but  in  secret  he  practised  many  mortifications,  especial- 
ly during  the  last  two  years  of  his  student-life.  Many 
an  hour  of  the  night,  even  during  the  depth  of  winter, 
did  he  spend  on  his  knees  in  fervent  prayer.  His  obe- 
dience to  his  superiors  and  professors  was  sincere;  but 
he  never  cringed,  never  flattered,  never  displayed  any 
noticeable  attachment  toward  them.  Had  they  been 
asked  what  they  thought  of  him,  they  must  have  an- 
swered: '  We  know  nothing  particular  of  him.  He  does 
not  distinguish  himself  in  any  way  from  others.'  The 
order  prescribed  the  students  he  kept  most  faithfully; 
the  keenest  observer  would  have  failed  to  detect  in  him 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  51 

the  least  infringement  of  rule.  '  It  is  the  rule,  it  must 
be  kept ! '  clinched  every  difficulty  on  the  score  of  col- 
lege regulations.  In  the  absence  of  superiors,  he  spoke 
and  acted  as  he  would  have  done  in  their  presence.  If 
I  review  those  ten  years  during  which  I  was  on  inti- 
mate terms  with  him,  to  discover  what  were  Neumann's 
faults,  I  should  find  only  one  imperfection,  and  that  was 
a  little  obstinacy  in  clinging  to  his  own  opinions.  In 
the  case  of  a  young  man,  clear-sighted  and  given  to 
deep  thought,  whose  conclusions  are  generally  correct, 
this  failing  is  quite  natural.  Indeed,  without  such  ad- 
herence to  one's  views  there  can  be  no  thorough  work, 
no  surmounting  of  difficulties;  in  a  word,  the  practice 
of  virtue  itself  becomes  almost  an  impossibility." 

The  foregoing  statement  is  fully  endorsed  by  others  of 
his  fellow-students.  One  writes: 

"As  John  Neumann  increased  in  knowledge,  he 
treated  his  body  with  a  severity  that  often  excited  our 
astonishment;  for  instance,  he  frequently  denied  himself 
food  and  watched  entire  nights  in  the  open  air.  Such 
severity  on  his  part  appeared  to  me,  I  must  confess, 
asceticism  altogether  too  strict.  It  was  only  at  the  close 
of  his  theological  course,  and  when  he  was  preparing 
for  missionary  life,  that  I  understood  his  object  in  de- 
voting himself  to  the  study  of  languages  and  the  practice 
of  such  mortifications." 

Another  friend  testifies: 

"  Unaccustomed  as  he  had  ever  been  to  a  life  of  ease, 
yet  Neumann  strove  to  inure  himself  to  still  greater 
mortification.  When  others  loudly  complained  of  the 
seminary  fare,  he  was  never  heard  to  utter  a  word  of 
dissatisfaction;  he  even  shared  his  portion  of  food  with 
one  of  the  poor  students.  If  the  day  proved  insufficient 
for  the  tasks  assigned  him,  a  part  of  the  night,  yes,  even 
entire  nights  were  stolen  from  sleep  and  devoted  to  their 
accomplishment.  When  at  last  he  found  himself  actually 
overcome  by  sleep,  he  would  put  several  chairs  together 


52  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

and  rest  for  a  few  hours  on  this  uninviting  couch.  He 
also  passed  many  nights  in  prayer  and  meditation  before 
the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament,  especially  before  and  after 
Holy  Communion.  Daily  meditation  he  never  omitted. 
In  the  year  1835  some  gentlemen  presented  themselves 
at  the  seminary,  to  offer  on  the  part  of  the  government 
the  position  of  Foreign  Secretary  to  any  one  of  the  as- 
pirants to  holy  orders  who  possessed  the  requisite 
qualifications,  viz.,  a  knowledge  of  languages.  All 
eyes  turned  toward  John  Neumann,  who,  however,  be- 
trayed not  the  least  desire  for  a  post  at  once  honorable 
and  lucrative.  Astonished  at  his  unaccountable  indif- 
ference, I  begged  him  to  inform  me  of  his  intentions  for 
the  future;  what  career  had  he  mapped  out  for  himself. 
He  looked  at  me  smiling,  and  answered,  '  Guess.' 
'  Well,'  I  replied,  '  I  suppose  it  is  nothing  less  than  the 
life  of  a  missionary  in  America.1  He  made  no  com- 
ment on  my  conjecture,  but  requested  me  to  remain 
with  him  in  the  study-hall  after  evening  prayers.  I  was 
all  impatience  for  the  appointed  moment,  so  eager  was 
I  to  hear  what  he  had  to  communicate.  At  last  even- 
ing came,  prayers  were  said,  and,  after  the  other  stu- 
dents dispersed,  Neumann  and  I  stood  together  at  a 
western  window  looking  out  on  the  clear  starlit  sky. 
Like  an  experienced  astronomer,  he  pointed  to  the 
worlds  above  us;  but  I  paid  little  attention.  His  de- 
lay in  coming  to  the  point  only  increased  my  curiosity. 
Then  he  spoke  of  America,  of  the  actual  state  and  the 
future  prospects  of  the  Church  there,  remarking  that  the 
harvest  was  great,  the  laborers  few.  He  referred  to  the 
missionaries,  and  at  last  acknowledged  his  own  settled 
resolve  to  labor  in  that  portion  of  his  Lord's  vineyard. 
I  could  not  repress  my  tears  of  joy  as  I  leaned  over  to 
press  my  lips  to  his  hand.  He  begged  me  to  keep  his 
secret,  as  the  fulfilment  of  his  desires  depended  upon 
his  parents'  consent;  meanwhile  he  would  pray  God  to 
incline  their  hearts  to  the  sacrifice." 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  53 

Though  Neumann's  contemporaries  offer  us  so  much 
to  admire  in  his  life  and  labors,  yet  we  find  in  his  own 
journal  subjects  for  still  greater  edification.  Therein  are 
noted  down  his  secret  thoughts  and  aspirations,  the  in- 
terior life  of  his  soul.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  only  a 
part  of  this  journal  is  extant,  and  even  of  this  part  we 
must,  in  order  not  to  exceed  the  limits  of  our  task,  give 
only  a  few  extracts.  His  record  refers  to  the  last  two 
years  of  his  student-life,  and  affords  us  a  glimpse  of  the 
interior  workings  of  his  mind  and  heart. 

His  two  years  at  Prague  proved  a  true  novitiate  of 
suffering  which  prepared  him  for  his  subsequent  career. 

From  earliest  boyhood,  his  most  earnest  desire  had 
been  to  love  and  serve  God  ;  and  as  years  passed,  and 
the  conviction  of  being  called  to  the  missionary  life  in 
America  took  possession  of  his  soul,  he  felt  that  his  first 
and  holiest  duty  was  to  confirm  himself  in  the  practice 
of  virtue.  None  other  than  a  high  degree  of  divine  love 
could  satisfy  the  longings  of  his  soul,  and  the  persevering 
efforts  he  made  for  its  attainment  find  a  parallel  only  in 
the  lives  of  the  most  saintly. 

By  serious  meditation  upon  the  infinite  perfections  of 
God  and  his  own  miseries  he  arrived  at  true  and  solid 
humility.  This  virtue  he  recognized  as  the  foundation 
of  all  others,  and  many  were  the  prayers  he  uttered  for 
its  acquisition.  One  day  he  thus  addresses  his  own 
soul:  "O  my  soul,  where  wast  thou  twenty-five  years 
ago  ?  No  one  then  knew  that,  created  to  the  image  of 
God,  thou  wast  to  have  an  existence;  where,  then,  wast 
thou  ?  Not  in  heaven,  not  in  the  abyss.  Thou  didst 
not  exist,  neither  couldst  thou  call  thyself  into  existence. 
Almighty  God  created  thee  !  Thou  wast  nothing;  thou 
couldst  not  even  cry  to  God  to  call  thee  forth  from 
nothing.  Thou  wast  less  than  a  drop  of  water,  less  than 
a  grain  of  sand.  God  could  have  made  thee  a  blade  of 
grass,  a  plant,  a  worm,  a  bird,  to  exist  for  a  time  in  His 
honor  and  then  to  fall  back  into  thy  original  nothing- 


54  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

ness.  But  this  He  did  not  do.  Thou  canst  turn  to  thy 
Creator,  thou  canst  love  Him,  thou  canst  thank  Him, 
since  thou  dost  exist,  since  thou  wilt  exist  to  glorify  Him 
forever.  Ah,  with  what  docility  ought  I  not  to  corre- 
spond to  the  end  for  which  I  was  created!  Teach  me,  O 
Lord,  to  praise  Thee!" 

Let  us  hear  the  cry  of  his  heart  when  he  petitions  for 
humility,  when  he  invokes  the  blessed  in  heaven  for  the 
same:  "  O  Jesus,  my  divine,  my  most  amiable  Teacher, 
teach  me  humility  and  resignation  to  Thy  most  holy 
will!  I  ask  with  confidence.  Thou  didst  grant  me 
temporal  favors  when  I  called  upon  Thee;  Thou  wilt  not 
now  reject  my  prayer  for  spiritual  ones.  True,  the  favor 
I  now  beg  is  infinitely  superior  to  any  temporal  one,  and 
I  am  altogether  unworthy  to  receive  it;  yet  it  is  Thy 
will  that  I  should  be  humble,  be  really  humble  with  sin- 
cere, heart-felt  humility.  Grant  it,  dear  Jesus,  that  I 
may  be  more  conformable  to  Thee!  Grant  it,  my  beloved 
Saviour,  my  most  amiable  Teacher!  O  Mary,  Mother  of 
mercy,  whose  help  I  so  sensibly  experienced  to-day,  pray 
to  thy  Divine  Son  for  me,  a  poor  sinner;  beg  Him  to 
make  me  humble!  Oh,  how  humble  thou  wast!  thou,  the 
purest  of  virgins;  thou,  my  powerful  mediatrix!  Thou, 
O  most  holy  among  the  children  of  Adam;  thou,  Immac- 
ulate Mother  of  God,  thou  didst  declare  thyself  the 
handmaid  of  Him  whose  Mother  thou  wast!  Behold, 
my  dear  heavenly  Mother,  how  gladly  I  would  devote 
myself  to  thy  Divine  Son  that  His  will  may  also  be  mine! 
But  my  pride,  my  self-esteem,  my  vanity,  are  always 
against  me.  I  fear  them,  and  yet  I  allow  them  to  sur- 
prise and  deceive  me  so  often.  Oh,  how  this  afflicts 
me!  O  Mary,  O  refuge  of  sinners,  if  I  were  only  sincere 
when  I  beg  of  thee  to  obtain  for  me  humiliations!  But 
alas!  whilst  praying  for  such  helps  to  humility,  I  fear 
the  granting  of  my  prayer.  I  clearly  see  the  better 
things,  I  even  desire  their  possession,  and  yet  I  shrink 
from  what  alone  can  give  me  true  humility!  Behold  my 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  55 

trials,  my  combats,  in  this  valley  of  tears!  O  my  dearest 
Mother,  if  to  be  freed  from  this  body  of  death  would 
give  God  glory,  how  gladly  would  I  not  lay  down  my 
life!  Yes,  and  gladly  would  I  lay  it  down  for  the  attain- 
ment of  humility.  But  what  do  I  say?  My  life?  Is  it 
anything  praiseworthy  to  give  as  a  ransom  from  the 
slavery  of  sin,  that  existence  which  sin  renders  burden- 
some to  me  ?  O  Jesus,  meek  and  humble  God-man,  my 
Teacher,  teach  me  to  be  humble!  Regard  not  the  rebel- 
lious struggles  of  him  who  has  been  confounded!  Pardon 
his  vexation  when  insulted,  his  tears  when  neglected! 
Let  me  everywhere  know  and  adore  Thy  holy  will!  O 
my  Guardian  Angel,  lead  me  to  the  practice  of  humility! 
Help  me  to  become  more  like  unto  thee,  more  like  unto 
my  best  friend,  my  most  merciful  Lord  Jesus  Christ! 
And  ye,  my  holy  patrons,  St.  Joseph,  St.  Francis  Xavier, 
St.  Vincent,  pray  for  me!  Ye  taught  humility  by  word 
and  deed.  Take  me  for  your  disciple,  that  I  may  become 
worthy  of  being  the  least  and  last  of  the  servants  of  my 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Amen!" 

Neumann  not  only  prayed  for  humility;  he  was,  more- 
over, careful  to  repress  every  craving  after  honor  or 
distinction.  The  following  lines  betray  the  feelings  that 
dictated  them: 

"The  happy  events  of  last  week,  the  scene  at  the  house 

of  Professor  M ,  my  meeting  with  the  Englishman, 

very  greatly  excited  my  ambition  and  vanity.  There  is, 
perhaps,  a  great  struggle  in  store  for  me.  O  God,  have 
mercy  on  me!  O  Jesus,  grant  the  victory  to  humility! 
Grant  that  I  may,  at  last,  obtain  this  fundamental  virtue, 
for  I  dread  humiliations,  the  only  means  of  destroying 
in  me  my  thirst  for  fame!" 

Mindful  of  his  Divine  Master's  words,  "  He  that  hath 
My  commandments  and  keepeth  them,  he  it  is  that  loveth 
Me,"*  he  put  forth  his  best  endeavors  toward  their  fulfil- 

*St.  John  xiv.  21. 


56  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

ment  in  deed  as  well  as  in  word.  From  childhood  he 
had  scrupulously  avoided  sin;  and  in  early  manhood 
his  whole  aim  was  to  divest  himself  of  his  faults  and 
imperfections.  Sincerely,  and  with  exactitude  peculiar 
to  himself,  he  daily  examined  his  conscience,  calling 
himself  to  account  for  all  his  thoughts,  words,  and  actions, 
scrutinizing  his  inclinations  and  desires.  He  spared 
self-love  in  nothing.  He  deplored  even  his  involuntary 
faults,  which,  in  the  light  of  God's  infinite  sanctity,  he 
called  his  sins,  his  crimes,  his  sacrileges;  and,  with  heart- 
felt sorrow,  he  begged  for  grace  and  pardon.  To  pro- 
pitiate God's  mercy,  he  imposed  upon  himself  penances 
which  were  scrupulously  performed;  and,  having  dis- 
covered the  cause  of  his  relapses,  he  made  firm  resolu- 
tions for  the  future.  Conscious  of  his  own  weakness, 
he  called  the  angels  and  saints  to  his  aid,  but  most 
frequently  he  had  recourse  to  the  Blessed  Virgin.  "O 
my  Mother  Mary,"  he  cried,  "Mother  of  my  God,  turn 
not  thy  eyes  from  me  on  account  of  my  sins!  I  desire 
to  love  thee  like  a  little  child,  but  I  am  not  worthy  that 
thou  shouldst  think  of  me.  How  can  I  say  that  I  love 
thee,  when  my  sinful  life  proves  the  contrary  ?  I  weep; 
but  what  do  such  tears  as  mine  avail  ?  Do  they  console 
me,  a  sinner?  Are  they  tears  of  penance?  Alas,  how 
insignificant  is  my  penance  compared  with  my  sins!  O 
Mother,  help  me  whose  sins  crucified  thy  Son!" 

Thus  did  he  struggle  courageously  and  perseveringly 
against  his  inclinations  to  sin,  against  his  real  defects. 
He  complains  in  strong  terms  of  his  deviations  from 
truth,  as  he  termed  certain  involuntary  inadvertencies  of 
speech. 

"  O  my  God,"  he  writes,  "  do  Thou  accept,  at  least  for 
the  present,  my  earnest  desire  not  to  offend  Thee,  in- 
stead of  the  well-merited  penance  from  which  my  ob- 
stinacy still  recoils.  Hear,  O  my  Divine  Teacher,  hear 
my  prayer!  Teach  me  how  to  speak,  for  I  am  ignorant 
of  the  art!  Permit  me  not  to  fall  into  temptation!  My 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  57 

conscience  shrinks  from  falsehood,  but  alas!  my  God, 
how  can  I  avoid  such  faults?  O  Thou,  the  All-Holy,  the 
All-Wise,  direct  my  speech!  If  it  be  Thy  will,  O  my  Jesus, 
that  I  should  communicate  with  my  fellow-creatures, 
grant  me  the  necessary  qualifications  for  gaining  their 
confidence;  but  if  such  be  not  Thy  holy  will,  grant 
me  patience  to  bear  the  confusion  in  store  for  me!" 

On  October  4,  1834,  he  made  a  vow  to  fast  one  day  for 
every  exaggeration  in  speech  of  which  he  found  himself 
guilty.  A  day  or  two  after,  he  purchased  some  fruit;  on 
returning  with  it  to  his  rooms,  he  encountered  the  presi- 
dent of  the  seminary,  who  playfully  accosted  him:  "Are 
you  going  to  eat  all  that  yourself?"  "  No,"  answered 
Neumann,  "  I  am  going  to  share  with  L ."  Now,  pre- 
viously to  the  president's  remark,  Neumann  had  formed 
no  actual  intention  of  sharing  the  fruit;  the  resolve  to  do 
so  was  made  only  when  unexpectedly  interrogated.  He 
did,  indeed,  divide  the  fruit  with  his  friend,  but  that  eve- 
ning his  remorse  found  vent  in  such  lamentations  as  these: 
"O  my  soul,  how  hast  thou  fallen  to-day  !  How  deeply 
hast  thou  fallen  into  the  sin  of  falsehood  !  Oh,  how 
hateful  is  this  vice  !  To-morrow  will  be  for  me  a  fast ! 
O  God,  grant  me  grace  to  fulfil  my  resolution  !" 

One  day  the  prefect  questioned  each  seminarian  as  to 
the  number  of  languages  he  understood.  Neumann, 
taking  the  word  in  its  strictest  sense,  answered  in  his 
turn,  "  Three."  But  soon  after  he  reproached  himself 
with  having  exaggerated,  and  begged  pardon  of  God 
for  his  two  offences,  one  of  exaggeration,  the  other  of 
pride. 

How  great  were  his  fervor  and  devotion  in  celebrating 
the  festival  of  Christmas!  Daily  did  he  hold  long  collo- 
quies with  the  Infant  Jesus.  One  year,  about  three 
days  before  Christmas,  to  his  great  confusion  he  failed 
in  an  address  he  had  been  chosen  to  deliver.  In  excusing 
himself  he  made  use  of  an  expression  which,  according 
to  his  ideas,  was  not  strictly  truthful.  Intense  was  his 


58  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

sorrow,  and  many  are  the  lines  of  his  journal  we  find 
devoted  to  its  expression.  Among  other  things,  he 
says: 

"  Dear  Infant  Jesus,  I  must  give  Thee  back  to  Thy 
Mother;  I  am  no  longer  worthy  to  bear  Thee  in  my  arms  ! 
Ah,  miserable  indeed  I  would  be,  were  I  to  die  in  this 
sin!  The  dear  little  Jesus  in  His  crib  weeps  over  my 
offences." 

All  are  familiar  with  the  fact  that  students  occasionally 
amuse  themselves  at  the  expense  of  their  masters.  One 
day  Neumann  joined  in  a  laugh  raised  against  a  certain 
professor ;  but  soon  recovering  himself,  he  resolved  to 
do  penance  for  his  fault.  "  My  penance  for  this  sin  is 
far  too  trifling,"  he  writes.  "  I  feel  that  divine  love  has 
been  diminished  in  my  soul.  I  perceive  the  abyss  opened 
by  it,  O  my  God,  between  Thy  glory  and  my  ever-increas- 
ing malice.  Have  mercy  on  me  !" 

Although  every  page  of  his  journal  is  a  proof  of 
Neumann's  indefatigable  zeal,  yet  he  sincerely  regarded 
himself  as  an  indolent,  useless  servant.  ''  My  predomi- 
nant passion,"  he  says,  "  is  sloth  in  the  fulfilment  of  my 
duties.  I  perform  them  only  from  dread  of  remorse.  O 
Spirit  Sanctifier,  grant  that  never  more  may  I  insult  Thy 
presence  and  degrade  myself  by  sloth !  Give  me,  O 
Jesus,  more  earnestness  in  striving  after  perfection;  give 
me  more  humility  !  I  ought  willingly  to  relinquish  every- 
thing that  might  prove  a  hindrance  to  me  in  imitating 
Thee."  Here  follow  resolutions  to  devote  the  time  after 
morning  prayers  to  his  prescribed  studies.  Soon,  how- 
ever, we  meet  fresh  self-accusations  on  account  of  new 
failures: 

"  I  resolved  to  devote  myself  after  prayers  to  my  reg- 
ular duties,  and  an  interior  voice  urged  me  to  the  fulfil- 
ment of  my  promise;  I  also  begged  Thee,  O  my  God, 
for  the  grace  to  overcome  my  self-love  to-day:  and  yet, 
behold,  something  quite  the  opposite  of  my  good  resolu- 
tion !  My  sinful  conscience  knows  no  rest.  O  my  Jesus, 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  59 

I  have  rendered  myself  unworthy  of  Thy  grace!"  Next 
comes  a  resolution  to  deprive  himself  of  bread  both  at 
breakfast  and  supper  whenever  he  failed  in  his  duties. 
Again  he  laments: 

"  O  my  Jesus,  once  more  I  have  separated  from  Thee 
by  my  disobedience.  I  have  again  broken  my  resolution 
to  study  at  fixed  hours.  Pardon  me,  my  God,  pardon 
this  my  great  sin  !" 

Later  on  he  accuses  himself:  "To-day  I  neglected  my 
morning  prayers.  My  God,  to  what  may  not  this  lead 
me  !  O  my  God,  change  my  joy  into  bitterness,  that  I 
may  weep  over  my  sins !" 

Once  he  fell  asleep  whilst  preparing  for  confession. 
"  O  God,"  he  cried,  "  will  not  this  disrespect  be  the  cause 
of  my  eternal  damnation  ?" 

Such  tenderness  of  conscience  greatly  displeased  the 
evil  one,  and  he  endeavored  to  check  young  Neumann's 
ardent  zeal.  But  Satan's  efforts  proved  fruitless,  as  the 
journal  testifies:  "God  often  permits  me,  for  my  greater 
humiliation,  to  fall  into  despondency.  Then  rise  up  be- 
fore me  all  the  sins  of  my  past  life,  my  hardness  of  heart, 
the  thought  of  God's  justice,  etc.,  and  I  feel  as  if  I  should 
die  of  grief.  This  gives  place,  in  turn,  to  hellish  pride 
and  vanity,  which  whisper,  '  You  do  not  commit  so  many 
faults;  your  sins  are  not  so  great  as  those  of  others.  You 
perform  such  or  such  a  good  work;  you  avoid  such  and 
such  evil  ones.  Do  not  be  so  troubled;  be  not  so  dis- 
couraged ! '  Ah,  Satan,  how  foolish  thou  art!  True,  I 
am  not  a  murderer;  but  am  I  not  constantly  committing 
great  sins  in  little  things  ?  God  has  enlightened  me.  He 
has  taught  me  how  pleasing  virtue  is  to  Him,  and  how 
hateful  vice,  though  to  thee,  O  wicked  spirit,  the  latter 
is  more  acceptable!  Heaven  and  hell  lie  open  before 
me;  and  yet  I  crucify  Christ  anew,  I  persevere  in  my 
wickedness,  I  heap  crime  upon  crime !  O  merciful  God, 
whither  shall  I  flee  from  Thy  wrath  ?  Thy  immensity 
fills  heaven  and  earth,  whilst  I  disgrace  both.  Where  shall 


60  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

I  hide  myself  ?  Thou  heapest  graces  upon  me,  and  I  con- 
tinue a  malefactor,  a  monster  in  human  form.  Alas,  my 
Jesus  !  Thou  didst  pray  for  Thy  executioners.  Behold 
at  Thy  feet  one  of  them!  Have  mercy  on  me  !  Thou  art 
peacefully  enthroned  in  the  hearts  of  Thy  saints,  but  my 
heart  is  the  foul  haunt  of  Satan.  O  Lord,  my  God,  have 
mercy  on  me!  Break  the  hard  rock  of  my  heart,  but  be 
merciful  to  me!  Pardon  the  work  of  Thy  hands  !  My 
soul,  where  art  thou  ?  How  far  removed  art  thou  from 
salvation!  Woe  is  me!  O  Jesus,  I  have  driven  Thee  from 
Thy  own  possession,  I  have  cast  Thee  out  of  my  heart ! 
Oh,  what  misery!  My  God,  be  merciful!" 

His  contrition,  being  true  and  supernatural,  was  also 
effective.  Hence  the  following  petition:  "Since  Thou 
art  so  good,  O  my  Jesus,  grant  me  true  compunction  for 
my  sins  !  Give  me  to  taste  the  bitterness  of  Thy  chal- 
ice !  Let  one  drop  of  Thy  baptism  fall  upon  my  head, 
that  in  some  small  degree  I  may  experience  the  pain 
my  sins  have  caused  Thee  !" 

His  untiring  supplications  were  at  last  rewarded.  The 
love  of  God,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  early  possessed  his 
heart,  began  to  take  new  increase  in  the  midst  of  trials 
and  temptations  of  divers  kinds. 

We  have  already  stated  that  his  sojourn  at  Prague 
was  for  Neumann  a  time  of  suffering;  but,  though  the 
thought  of  those  two  years  was  a  bitter  one  in  after-life, 
yet  they  were,  on  the  whole,  of  inestimable  advantage  in 
the  formation  of  his  character. 

The  opinions  of  his  fellow-students  were  entirely  too 
liberal  for  one  of  Neumann's  pious  turn  of  mind,  and 
their  mode  of  life  was  little  in  accordance  with  the  spirit 
of  Jesus  Christ.  This  diversity  of  sentiment  rendered 
him  an  object  of  contempt  and  ridicule  in  their  sight; 
they  regarded  him  as  one  given  to  eccentricity.  The 
unkind  treatment  he  experienced  from  them  pained 
young  Neumann's  sensitive  heart,  and  the  pleasing 
reminiscences  of  Budweis,  where,  as  a  student  for  ten 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  61 

years,  he  had  made  so  many  friends,  only  aggravated  his 
present  position.  He  writes: 

"  The  thought  of  Rev.  Father  Dichtl  and  my  friend 

A only  increase  my  desolation;  my  tears  flow  every 

evening.  Here  I  live  in  the  midst  of  sloth  and  tepidity, 
which  are  a  hindrance  to  my  own  advancement;  and 
among  the  pious  directors  of  Budweis  no  one  is  thinking 
of  me.  They  have  all  forgotten  me;  I  am  sad  and  alone! 
Willingly  would  I  bear  it  all,  could  I  only  advance  in  the 
spiritual  life.  My  heart  bleeds;  I  have  no  remedy. 
Abandoned  and  despised  by  all,  I  turn  to  Thee,  O  Lord! 
Oh,  let  me  be  ever,  ever  Thine,  though  Thou  be  deaf  to 
my  prayers,  unmindful  of  my  tears!" 

Again  we  read:  "X will  have  nothing  more  to  do 

with  me,  he  thinks  me  idle  and  unfaithful;  and  for  this, 
O  Jesus,  mayest  Thou  be  ever  praised!  The  good  de- 
spise me  for  my  awkwardness,  and  the  wicked  for  my 
apparent  rigor,  which  they  take  for  false  enthusiasm. 
Gladly  do  I  throw  myself  at  Thy  feet,  O  Jesus!  Tram- 
ple upon  me;  I  deserve  it,  but  do  not  cast  me  off  from 
Thee!" 

On  December  10,  1834,  one  of  the  students  read  aloud 
in  the  study-hall  a  letter  ridiculing  Neumann's  ex- 
travagant orthodoxy,  as  they  termed  his  firm  adherence 
to  Holy  Church.  Its  effect  was  to  alienate  many  of  his 
companions  from  him.  In  his  examen  that  evening  he 
thus  alludes  to  the  affront:  "  My  self-love  was  roused. 
My  God,  what  will  become  of  me  if  I  continue  so  sensi- 
tive ?  I  am  not  yet  ready  to  suffer  with  Jesus.  O  God, 
pardon  me!" — and  then  and  there  he  resolved  to  be  re- 
venged, but  in  a  manner  worthy  of  a  Christian.  "  I 
find,"  he  writes,  "  that  pride,  even  on  account  of  some 
seeming  spiritual  advantages,  begins  to  show  itself;  a 
kind  of  jealousy  gnaws  at  my  heart.  To  humble 
myself,  I  will  on  every  occasion  offer  my  services  to  my 
brethren.  Every  time  I  meet  any  one  of  them  I  will,  in 
spirit,  lovingly  kiss  his  hand  as  I  would  that  of  our 


62  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Lord  Himself.  I  will  also  defend  and  excuse  them 
whenever  I  possibly  can." 

We  must  conclude  from  these  words  that  his  love  for 
his  neighbor  was  true  and  sincere.  In  his  humility  he 
seeks  and  finds  the  cause  of  their  unjust  treatment, 
not  in  their  ill-will,  but  in  himself;  he  turns  the  insults 
heaped  upon  him  to  his  own  greater  humiliation. 

Quite  differently,  however,  did  John  Neumann  judge 
of  things  when  God  or  His  Holy  Church  was  made  the 
object  of  contempt. 

"  O  Mary,  my  Mother,"  he  one  day  exclaimed,  "  pray 

for  me  in  this  affair  with  D regarding  Canisius,  that, 

if  it  be  God's  holy  will,  our  contention  may  cease!" 

On  another  occasion  he  remarks:  "A  dispute  arose  at 

table  which  filled  me  with  disgust.  H ridiculed 

certain  saints  whose  canonization  he  regards  as  the  re- 
sult of  ignorance  and  superstition.  I  will  withdraw  as 
much  as  possible  from  all  who  love  not  Thee  and  Thy 
Church,  O  Jesus!" 

Our  straightforward  and  unpretentious  student  was 
generally  misunderstood  by  his  professors,  who  often, 
though  unintentionally,  increased  his  interior  sufferings 
at  this  period.  We  have  already  caught  a  glimpse  of 
his  opinion  of  these  gentlemen,  and  much  of  his  suffer- 
ing was  due  to  the  fact  of  his  own  inability  to  treat  with 
the  president  as  a  child  with  its  father.  Daily  do  we 
find  him  lamenting  this  want  of  confidence  in  his  superi- 
ors, though,  in  his  humble  estimate  of  himself,  he  seeks 
the  cause  in  his  own  shortcomings. 

"  The  president  and  all  good  people  despise  me,"  he 
writes.  "  My  Jesus,  my  uncertain  relations  toward 
the  president  cause  me  great  anxiety."  And  again: 
"  My  aversion  for  the  president  increases.  I  regret  that 
he  knows  my  most  important  secret,  my  intention  of 
going  to  America.  If  I  mistake  in  his  regard,  pardon 
me,  O  my  God!  I  will  be  obedient  to  him,  I  will  shield 
him  from  derision,  I  will  try  to  bear  him  a  Christian  love." 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  63 

May  10,  1835,  he  writes:  "O  Jesus,  Thou  didst  permit 
me  to-day  to  become  better  acquainted  with  the  presi- 
dent through  his  criticism  of  Father  Dichtl's  article  in 
the  Katholik.  Ah,  my  Father,  do  Thou  win  him  to  Thy- 
self!  He  is  Thy  son.  Hear  my  prayer  in  his  behalf  !" 
"To-day  the  president  entered  the  museum  whilst 
I  was  reading  the  Meditations  on  the  Gospel.  He 
glanced  at  the  book  and  asked,  'Why  do  you  occupy 
yourself  with  such  reading?'  'You  know  the  reason,'  I 
answered.  Then  he  continued,  'Are  you  serious  in  your 
resolve  to  be  a  missionary?'  I  replied  in  the  affirma- 
tive. Now  I  must  speak  to  him  on  this  delicate  matter; 
for,  should  he  mention  it  to  others,  he  might  do  much 
harm  to  the  cause." 

On  April  i3th  he  wrote  with  still  greater  freedom: 
"If  sometimes  I  seek  his  company,  he  avoids  me;  he 
seems  to  despise  me.  Perhaps  more  than  appearances 
are  against  me.  Were  it  not  for  this  misunderstanding, 
I  would  not  feel  as  I  do  toward  him,  and  he  could  give 
me  much  assistance.  But  his  maxims,  his  guarded  be- 
havior, his  carefully  concealed  intentions,  his  want  of 
forbearance  toward  the  erring,  his  apparently  unsympa- 
thetic nature,  which  seems  only  to  feign  compassion, — 
all  prevent  my  opening  my  heart  to  him.  My  God,  for- 
give me  if  I  sin  against  this  zealous  man!  My  own  bad 
heart  may  be  the  cause  of  my  unfavorable  judgment  of 
him;  yet,  so  far,  I  have  not  been  able  to  understand 
things  otherwise,  and  I  dare  not  act  against  my  con- 
science. To  consult  another  would  infringe  upon  the 
respect  due  to  him,  and  would  help  me  little.  The  judg- 
ments of  others  might  be  still  harsher,  since,  perhaps, 
even  less  than  myself  can  they  form  an  opinion  of  him." 

Despite  his  reluctance,  however,  we  find  young  Neu- 
mann a  few  days  after  disclosing  his  plans  to  the  presi- 
dent, who,  so  far  from  discouraging  him,  suggested  his 
entering  the  Society  of  Jesus.  But  soon  again  we  meet 
the  lines:  "The  president's  sermon  has  wounded  my 


64  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

heart.  I  like  him  now  less  than  ever.  O  Jesus,  Thou 
knowest  my  sad  condition!  Here  I  am  without  a  guide, 
without  an  adviser.  Lord,  teach  me  how  to  pray  that 
I  may  obtain  what  is  so  necessary  for  me,  a  guide  in  the 
spiritual  life.  I  have  none  to  console  me  in  my  falls,  to 
counsel  me  in  my  doubt  as  to  whether  I  should  enter  an 
Order  or  Congregation  where  I  might  live  in  perfect 
obedience;  none  to  direct  me  in  my  efforts  to  amend  my 
life,  none  to  point  out  how  I  may  become  more  pleasing 
to  Thee.  O  my  Jesus,  in  my  desolation  I  cry  to  Thee! 
Hear  my  prayer,  send  me  a  good  confessor!" 

Neumann  recognized  the  necessity  of  a  spiritual  guide 
in  order  to  make  progress  on  the  road  that  leads  to  per- 
fection; but  no  such  director  was  to  be  found  to  assist 
him  in  his  scruples  and  doubts.  This  uncertainty,  this 
feeling  of  abandonment,  added  greatly  to  his  mental  suf- 
ferings at  this  epoch.  With  what  fervent  supplications 
did  he  not  entreat  God  to  send  him  an  enlightened  di- 
rector! "To-morrow,"  he  writes  at  the  beginning  of  the 
scholastic  term,  "to-morrow  I  shall  go  to  confession.  I 
pray  God  that  I  may  meet  a  confessor  who  will  under- 
stand how  to  apply  a  remedy  to  my  passions!" 

His  preparation  for  confession  always  comprised  a 
prayer  for  his  confessor:  "O  Jesus,  enlighten  my  con- 
fessor that  he  may  make  known  to  me  Thy  will!"  Again: 
"O  Jesus,  enlighten  my  confessor  that  he  may  under- 
stand the  state  of  my  soul!  Oh,  see  how  I  wander  with- 
out a  guide  in  this  labyrinth  of  doubt!  To  whom  shall 
I  apply  for  counsel  ?  Where  shall  I  find  relief  ?  O  Lord, 
Thou  knowest  my  heart  with  all  its  faults,  but  Thou  also 
knowest  that  it  is  resigned  to  Thy  holy  will!  Aid  me 
in  my  misery!" 

His  temptations  increased  daily,  whilst  his  efforts  to 
attain  perfection  became  more  earnest. 

"  Would  that  I  had  some  one  to  point  out  the  sure  way 
to  Thee,  O  my  Jesus!  O  my  Divine  Master,  if  Thou 
wert  still  on  earth,  I  would  seek  Thee  out,  cast  myself 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  65 

at  Thy  feet,  and  abandon  to  Thee  my  life  and  my  soul ! 
But,  alas,  I  wander  here  an  exile,  far  from  my  country, 
far  from  Thee!  Thou  hast  established  Thy  Church,  and 
she  teaches  me  that  if  I  fulfil  Thy  holy  will,  Thou  wilt 
love  me.  Thou  seest  my  heart,  O  Jesus!  I  am  firmly 
resolved  to  follow  Thee.  Have  mercy  on  me,  O  good 
Saviour!" 

This  spiritual  guide  whose  assistance  would  have  been 
of  such  benefit  at  this  time  was  not  to  be  found.  John 
Neumann  was  to  attain  perfection  without  human  aid  and 
by  the  royal  road  of  the  cross.  This  was  God's  most 
holy  will.  His  daily  examen  was  always  followed  by  an 
act  of  heart-felt  contrition,  which  was  greatly  intensified 
when  about  to  approach  the  tribunal  of  penance. 

"  My  Lord  Jesus,"  he  cried,  "  behold  me  defiled  by  sin! 
Again  have  I  stained  the  holy  garment  of  purity  which 
Thy  Blood  has  so  often  cleansed.  O  Father,  hear  my 
prayer!  Give  me  the  true  spirit  of  penance,  that,  through 
the  humble  supplication  of  my  contrite  heart,  I  may 
again  receive  pardon.  Since  my  last  confession,  O  my 
Jesus,  I  have  fallen  more  frequently  than  usual!  My 
incessant  combats,  my  unholy  desires,  my  tepidity  and 
discouragement,  have  made  me  forget  many  great  sins. 
My  Jesus,  I  have  not  kept  my  word!  I  promised  to  ad- 
vance, and  lo!  I  have  gone  back.  But  do  not  Thou  for- 
sake me,  though  I  have  richly  deserved  to  be  rejected  as 
obstinate  and  incorrigible.  But  what  would  become  of 
me  if  Thou  wert  always  angry  with  me  ?  Behold  me 
prostrate  before  Thee,  O  my  God!  My  sinfulness  weighs 
me  down.  My  anguish  Thou,  the  Omniscient  God,  alone 
knowest.  Alas!  Jesus,  my  God-Saviour,  I  dare  not  raise 
my  eyes  to  Thee!  How  can  I  presume  to  ask  pardon?  I 
who  have  so  often  violated  my  word,  so  often  returned 
to  the  mire  of  iniquity  whence  Thy  love  had  drawn  me! 
O  my  soul,  my  poor,  cowardly  soul,  thou  art  crushed 
by  thy  load  of  sin!  Take  courage;  thy  Redeemer 
will  console  thee  in  thy  wretchedness!  Come,  let  us 


66  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

again  approach  His  throne;  let  us  again  crave  forgive- 
ness. Jesus,  my  Lord  and  my  God,  I  beg  pardon  for  all 
my  sins!  Reject  me  not,  although  I  have  miserably 
broken  my  resolution  of  amendment.  Mercy,  my  Jesus! 
I  have  no  one  to  help  me.  Thou  alone  art  my  Lord  and 
Saviour.  Cast  not  off  Thy  wretched,  sinful  child,  or  he 
will  be  forever  lost!  From  my  heart  I  grieve  for  having 
offended  Thee,  O  Jesus,  and  yet  I  am  so  cold  that  I 
fear  my  confession  will:  not  be  a  contrite  one!  O  holy 
Mother  of  God,  my  guardian  angel,  my  holy  patron,  in- 
tercede for  me  with  my  Judge,  obtain  for  me  the  pardon 
of  my  sins!  O  Jesus,  grant  me  the  true  spirit  of  pen- 
ance; permit  me  not  to  make  a  bad  confession!  Pray 
for  me,  ye  blessed  spirits!  My  Jesus,  have  mercy  on  me! 
Amen." 

His  desire  for  weekly  confession  was  real  and  sincere. 
He  was  impatient  for  the  appointed  day  to  arrive,  for  in 
the  Sacrament  of  Penance  he  found  calm  for  his  troubled 
heart.  Yet  even  this  consolation  was  often  withheld,  as 
we  discover  by  the  following  lines:  "  I  long  to  confess 
to-morrow  that  I  may  regain  my  peace  of  heart,  for  my 
sins  are  continually  before  me.  But  Thou,  my  Lord  and 
my  God,  Thou  art  my  law!  Do  with  me  as  is  pleasing 
to  Thee;  I  resign  myself  entirely  to  Thy  will.  Dost 
Thou  wish  me  still  to  bear  the  pain  of  the  withdrawal  of 
Thy  grace,  be  Thou  forever  praised!  I  will  be  more 
watchful,  I  will  never  forget  Thee,  I  will  love  Thy  Law 
as  Thy  gift  to  man;  and  since  Thou  art  the  best  of 
fathers,  I  will  be  faithful  in  keeping  Thy  commandments. 
Teach  me  Thy  will,  O  dearest  Lord,  that  I  may  never 
waver  but,  trusting  in  Thy  assistance,  may  begin  and 
end  all  my  works  to  Thy  greater  glory!" 

On  the  following  day,  so  eagerly  longed  for,  so  ar- 
dently hoped  for,  no  confessions  were  heard.  For  this 
privation  our  pious  student  thus  consoles  himself:  "No 
confessions  to-day.  What  a  disappointment  for  me! 
Now  for  eight  days  more  I  shall  be  restless  and  misera- 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  67 

ble.  But  I  must  not  lose  courage.  Thou,  O  my  most 
amiable  Jesus,  Thou  dost  sleep  in  the  poor  crib  of  my 
heart.  Art  Thou,  perchance,  weary  of  my  incessant 
weeping  over  my  sins?  Forgive  me,  O  Divine  Babe! 
Whilst  Thine  eyes  are  closed  in  slumber,  I  will  adorn 
Thy  crib  with  the  most  lovely  flowers.  When  Thou 
awakest,  Thy  little  eyes  will  be  delighted;  Thou  wilt  be 
better  pleased  with  Thy  new  home.  Dearest  Mother 
Mary,  teach  me  how  to  adorn  the  dwelling  of  thy  Divine 
Child!  Thou  art  full  of  grace;  the  Lord  is  ever  with 
thee!  Angels  and  saints  of  God,  help  me!  With  the 
blue  forget-me-not  I  will  surround  Thee,  little  Jesus; 
they  are  blue  as  Thine  own  loving  eyes.  Oh,  do  not  Thou 
forget  me  on  the  great  Day  of  Judgment!  I  will  keep 
Thee  alone  before  my  eyes,  for  Thou  art  my  God!  On 
Thy  breast,  O  Divine  Infant,  I  will  lay  the  white  lily  of 
purity  and  innocence,  for  Thou  art  the  All-Holy.  I  will 
become  like  unto  Thee.  To  it  I  will  add  the  rose  of 
love,  as  a  proof  that  I  sigh  for  Thy  love  alone.  Oh,  let  me 
love  Thee  with  my  whole  heart!  It  is  a  blood-red  rose. 
Deign  to  purify  me  from  my  sins,  cleanse  me  in  Thy 
own  precious  blood!  And,  because  of  its  sweet  fra- 
grance, I  place  beside  the  lily  and  the  rose  the  humble 
little  violet!  Jesus,  my  Teacher,  I  am  Thy  slave,  Thy 
disciple!  Be  Thou  merciful  to  me!  Grant  me  true 
humility;  make  me  advance  in  Thy  love!  Sweet  Babe, 
scarcely  hast  Thou  begun  to  live  when  Thy  cheek  grows 
pale  and  on  Thy  eyelids  tremble  the  glistening  tear- 
drops. Thou  sufferest  for  me.  Ah,  do  not  reject  me! 
I  will  never  more  offend  Thee!  What  shall  I  do  to 
regain  Thy  favor?  Thou  art  my  God,  my  Creator;  I 
have  nothing  but  what  Thou  hast  bestowed  upon  me; 
but,  behold,  what  I  have  I  return  to  Thee!  For  Thee 
only  will  I  live,  Thee  only  will  I  love!  What  causes 
Thee  joy  shall  be  my  joy,  and  all  that  Thou  dost  hate  I 
will  hate.  See,  my  soul,  how  sweetly  the  Divine  Infant 
slumbers!  do  thou  watch  and  pray  that  He  may  love 


68  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

thee!  Fear  not  that  He  will  reject  thee.  Children  are 
kind,  they  have  no  guile.  But  take  care  not  to  cause 
Him  pain  by  any  disobedience  on  thy  part,  not  even  by 
some  slight  carelessness;  for  He  is  also  a  God  who  has 
it  in  His  power  to  punish  thee!" 

On  February  14,  1835,  Neumann  made  the  general  con- 
fession for  which  he  had  so  long  and  so  ardently  sighed. 
He  prepared  for  it  with  the  full  persuasion  of  its  being 
one  of  the  most  important  actions  of  his  life.  Urgent 
were  the  prayers  he  poured  forth  to  his  Divine  Re- 
deemer, and  repeated  his  invocation  of  the  saints,  that 
he  might  accuse  himself  of  all  his  transgressions  with 
profit  to  his  soul.  We  find  him  recording  the  momen- 
tous affair  in  the  following  words: 

"O  my  God,  it  is  accomplished;  a  Christian  life  has 
been  begun!  I  have  confessed  all  the  sins  of  the 
past.  Henceforth  I  will  ask  consolation  neither  of  the 
world  nor  of  Thee,  O  my  God!  Thou,  my  Divine 
Teacher,  knowest  whether  consolation  is  useful  to  my 
soul  or  not.  In  dryness  I  will  no  longer  be  disturbed, 
but  do  Thou,  my  God,  preserve  me  from  presumption! 
Take  entire  possession  of  me.  To  Thee  I  consecrate  all 
the  powers  of  my  soul  and  body,  my  whole  being!" 

After  each  confession  we  find  a  grateful  and  loving 
acknowledgment  of  the  graces  received. 

"O  my  Jesus,  Thou  hast  cleansed  me  from  my  sins! 
For  this  I  rejoice,  as  I  can  now  again  love  Thee  as  I 
once  did.  But  yet,  my  God,  my  poor  heart  is  not  joyful, 
though  it  is  contented.  Yes,  it  is  satisfied,  since  Thou 
dost  treat  it  according  to  Thy  mercy.  Come,  O  my 
Lord,  come  and  inflame  my  heart  with  love!  Thy  love 
raised  Lazarus  from  the  dead;  Thy  mercy  has  roused  my 
soul  from  the  lethargy  of  sin.  Thy  priest  has  loosened 
the  bonds  which  bound  me  fast.  Ah,  truly,  Thou  must 
love  me!  Thou  dost  heal  all  the  wounds  of  my  soul  at 
once.  O  Jesus,  accept  my  thanks!  Though  they  come 
from  an  arid,  tepid  heart,  I  know  that  Thou  wilt  not 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  69 

reject  them.  From  this  day  I  begin  a  new  life!  With 
the  help  of  Thy  grace  I  will  be  patient,  diligent,  and 
devout.  Remind  me,  dear  Lord,  on  occasions  in  which 
I  may  practise  my  good  resolution.  Hear  my  prayer,  O 
Jesus,  to  love  and  praise  Thee  with  my  whole  heart, 
with  my  whole  soul,  with  all  my  strength!  Mother  of 
Jesus,  pray  to  thy  Son  for  me!  Jesus,  be  with  me!  Jesus, 
stay  with  me!" 

Almighty  God  was  all  in  all  to  John  Neumann.  Sev- 
eral days  previously  to  the  happy  one  on  which  his  Lord 
and  Saviour,  his  only  Love,  was  to  enter  his  soul  in 
Holy  Communion  he  spent  in  devout  preparation.  The 
thanksgiving  which  followed  was  not  less  lengthy  or 
fervent.  No  expressions  seem  adequate  to  depict  his 
transports  during  this  happy  period.  Sufferings  and 
joys,  consolation  and  desolation,  were  alike  laid  as  a 
holocaust  at  the  feet  of  his  Divine  Redeemer,  to  whom 
he  again  consecrated  himself  an  obedient  disciple  and 
slave.  To  record  the  one-hundredth  part  of  his  edifying 
thanksgivings  at  such  times  would  far  exceed  the  limits 
of  our  work.  A  few  will  suffice  to  convey  some  idea  of 
all.  On  November  22,  1834,  he  writes: 

"  My  Lord  and  my  God,  once  more  am  I  to  approach 
the  altar  of  Thy  Most  August  Sacrament;  once  more  am 
I  to  receive  the  Almighty  Creator  of  heaven  and  earth; 
once  more  receive  the  Most-High  God  in  whose  all-see- 
ing eyes  the  seraphim  are  not  pure;  once  more  receive 
that  Just  Judge  who  knows  my  crimes  better  than  I  do 
myself;  once  more  receive  Him  whose  garments  alone 
healed  the  sick!  My  God,  what  shall  I  do,  since  in  Thy 
sight  the  angels  themselves  are  not  pure  ?  What  shall  I, 
a  sinner,  do  that  I  may  not  eat  judgment  and  damnation 
to  myself?  O  my  God,  my  Redeemer,  how  is  it  that 
Thou  dost  desire  to  confer  on  me  this  great  favor  ?  Be- 
hold, I  offer  Thee  my  tears  of  penance  and  of  love!  I 
have  naught  else  to  offer.  Deign  to  accept  my  heart 
and  my  will.  Enlighten  me,  O  Eternal  Wisdom,  that  I 


7O  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

may  practise  Thy  teachings,  that  I  may  concur  in  the 
salvation  of  those  whom  Thou  didst  purchase  at  so  great 
a  price!  Do  with  me  what  Thou  pleasest,  for  all  my 
desire  is  to  fulfil  Thy  holy  will.  Ah,  I  know  that  Thou 
lovest  me!  Thou  didst  grant  me  to-day  tears  of  love  and 
of  penance,  for  which,  O  Jesus,  mayest  Thou  be  ever 
blessed!  I  would  ask  Thee  for  many  things,  but,  alas, 
I  know  not  what  to  ask!  O  Father,  give  Thy  children 
daily  bread;  forgive  us  our  sins;  lead  us  not  into  tempta- 
tion, but  deliver  us  from  evil  !  Preserve  Thy  Holy 
Church,  our  good  Mother!  Direct  our  Holy  Father  the 
Pope;  be  merciful  to  all  the  faithful;  enlighten  unbeliev- 
ers! Bless  my  parents,  my  brother,  my  sisters,  my 
friend  Schmid,  and  all  my  friends  and  enemies.  And 
thou,  my  Heavenly  Mother,  accept  my  thanks  for  thy 
wonderful  intercession!  Be  forever  my  refuge,  my  con- 
soler! My  loved  patrons,  whom  I  have  chosen  as  inter- 
cessors at  the  throne  of  the  Most  High,  come  to  my  as- 
sistance! My  holy  guardian  angel,  my  faithful  guide, 
thou  hast  seen  the  tears  that  have  flowed  from  my  eyes 
— those  eyes  which  were  before  so  long  without  a  tear;  to 
thee  I  give  them,  that  thou  mayest  present  them  to  my 
Judge  and  Redeemer.  Amen." 

Neumann's  love  for  God  suffered  no  decrease  even  in 
seasons  of  great  aridity.  Behold  the  proof  of  it  in  the 
familiar  language  he  addressed  to  Almighty  God: 

"True,  I  feel  but  little  devotion;  my  soul  is  dry  and 
sluggish;  but  yet,  O  Lord  Jesus,  I  believe  in  Thee,  I 
hope  in  Thee,  I  love  Thee,  and  I  grieve  for  having  ever 
offended  Thee!  Behold  my  resolution  to  live  entirely 
for  Thee,  to  be  patient  in  sufferings,  diligent  in  the  ful- 
filment of  my  duties,  humble  before  Thee  and  my  neigh- 
bor, and  devout  in  Thy  service.  O  my  God,  accept  the 
sacrifice  of  my  lowliness!  Holy  Immaculate  Mother  of 
my  Jesus,  pray  for  me,  a  poor  sinner,  that  I  may  worth- 
ily receive  my  God!" 

Here  follows  a  prayer  for  the  day  of  his  Communion. 


His  Piety  as  a  Seminarian.  71 

In  it  we  see  his  love  inflamed,  his  will  strengthened  by 
contact  with  his  Eucharistic  God:  "O  my  Jesus,  Thou 
hast  come  into  my  heart!  I  cannot  weep  for  joy,  be- 
cause of  the  aridity  of  my  soul,  but  I  can  protest  that  I 
love  Thee  above  all  things,  O  Jesus,  Thou  God  of  my 
heart!  Before  all  the  angels  and  saints,  I  promise  that 
in  trials  and  sufferings  I  will  love  Thee  as  much  as  in 
joy  and  consolation.  Bless  my  work,  rouse  my  cour- 
age, and,  should  it  be  Thy  most  holy  will,  help  me  to 
announce  Thy  divine  teachings  to  the  ignorant." 


72  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Trials  and  Sufferings. 

A  LMIGHTY  GOD,  finding  His  youthful  disciple 
Jr\.  willing  and  capable  of  being  received  into  the 
school  of  trial  and  purification — a  school  frequented 
only  by  His  special  favorites — treated  John  Neumann  as 
a  hardy  soldier,  or  rather  He  sought,  by  severe  disci- 
pline, to  fashion  him  into  such  a  soldier.  For  this  end, 
his  virtues  were,  one  by  one,  to  be  tested  and  ennobled 
by  temptation;  consequently  he  began  about  this  time 
to  experience  great  disgust  for  prayer  and  the  perform- 
ance of  daily  duty.  His  soul  entered  into  that  utter 
darkness  where  faith  and  hope  and  love  seem  totally 
extinguished.  He  felt  that  God  had  forsaken,  had 
entirely  rejected  him;  and  yet  he  bravely  struggled  on, 
resolved  to  love  Him,  and  Him  alone,  as  his  Lord  and 
Sovereign  Master.  But  the  anxiety  he  felt  as  to  the 
reality  of  his  love  filled  up  the  measure  of  his  misery. 
In  this  painful  state,  with  no  one  to  direct  him,  God 
allowed  him  to  remain  a  considerable  time.  It  was  pre- 
cisely along  this  rough  road,  however,  that  he  was  to 
attain  a  high  degree  of  humility  and  love.  His  journal 
now  teems  with  amorous  complaints:  "Alas,  I  am  in 
great  distress  !  Last  evening,  after  prayers,  I  lingered 
in  the  museum,  reflecting  on  the  love  ®f  Jesus  for  me 
and  my  own  ingratitude  toward  Him.  Tears  of  bitter 
sorrow  fell  from  my  eyes.  In  my  misery  I  turned  to 
the  Blessed  Virgin  for  aid;  and  I  also  addressed  Jesus, 
whom  I  fancied  by  me.  I  besought  Him  to  teach  me 
how  to  act  in  order  not  to  cast  obstacles  in  the  way  of 
grace.  But  I  waited  uneasily  for  the  sound  of  His 
voice  in  my  soul;  nay,  my  whole  soul  seemed  to  revolt 


Trials  and  Sufferings.  73 

against  it.  In  my  heart,  I  wished  to  hear  nothing;  my 
corrupt  nature  shrank  from  its  whisperings.  Then  came 
the  bitter  thought  that  I  do  not  love  my  Saviour,  that  I 
do  not  esteem  Him,  seeing  that  I  do  not  receive  Him 
oftener  in  Holy  Communion.  I  was  perplexed  and 
uncertain  as  to  whether  this  was  an  inspiration  from 
God  or  a  suggestion  of  the  evil  one.  Now  I  believed 
it  from  God,  and  again  I  doubted.  I  was  cast  about  in 
anguish  of  spirit.  But,  O  my  God,  of  this  I  am  certain: 
I  do  feel  a  great  desire  to  receive  Thee  more  frequently. 
This  is  now  my  dearest  wish,  and  yet  I  dread  to  enter 
upon  a  closer  examination  as  to  how  I  may  effect  it,  in 
view  of  my  relations  to  the  president,  to  my  confessor, 
and  to  my  fellow-students.  This  unceasing  attraction 
of  grace  on  the  one  hand,  and  my  own  resistance  on 
the  other,  cause  me  unspeakable  pain.  In  my  anxiety, 
I  do  not  consult  my  love  for  Thee,  O  Jesus,  because  it 
would  demand  of  me  a  firm  resolution  and  a  generous 
correspondence.  Or  does  the  evil  one  seek  to  place 
obstacles  to  my  love  for  Thee  ?  Ah  !  he  will  never  suc- 
ceed; for  behold  me,  dearest  Jesus,  behold  me  awaiting 
Thy  decision  !" 

After  spending  the  Lent  of  1835  in  the  devout  medita- 
tion of  our  Lord's  Sacred  Passion,  Neumann  made,  on 
Palm-Sunday,  a  cross  of  blessed  palm,  which  he  placed 
on  his  breast  in  memory  of  his  suffering  Redeemer.  The 
enemy  of  salvation,  enraged  at  his  tender  devotion, 
raised  on  the  instant  a  storm  of  revolt  in  the  heart  of 
the  young  man,  though  he  did  not  succeed  in  making 
him  omit  any  of  his  penitential  practices.  The  follow- 
ing effusions  of  love  sufficiently  express  his  sentiments 
at  this  period:  "My  dearest  Jesus,  to  suffer  something 
for  Thy  sake,  and  to  bear  Thee  in  constant  remem- 
brance, I  placed  on  my  breast  a  cross  of  blessed  palm. 
Oh,  what  joy  to  suffer  something  for  Thee,  my  suffering 
Saviour!  But,  alas,  such  things  are  trifles!  Oh,  that  I 
could  be  burned  alive,  if  only  to  love  Thee  more  per- 


74  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

fectly  !  O  Sovereign  Lord  of  my  life,  my  mind,  my 
soul,  my  whole  being,  O  my  Saviour  and  my  God,  send 
me  great  sufferings,  that  I  may  thereby  better  love  and 
praise  Thee  !  Ah,  behold  !  since  I  placed  that  cross  on 
my  heart  there  have  sprung  up  within  me  diabolical 
emotions  and  desires.  But  wherefore  should  this  trou- 
ble me?  Ought  I  not  rather  rejoice  that,  by  despising 
their  importunity,  I  may  prove  to  Thee  that  I  love  Thee 
better  than  my  body  and  its  miserable  pleasures  ?  Thou, 
my  Jesus,  art  my  joy !  My  heart  longs  for  Thee ! 
Come,  my  Love,  my  All !  If  it  be  to  Thy  honor,  let  me 
become  a  missionary,  that  I  may  suffer  for  my  sins 
and  die  for  Thee,  my  Divine  Master;  nevertheless,  not 
my  will,  but  Thine  be  done  !" 

His  tender  and  persevering  supplications  at  last 
drew  upon  him  the  merciful  regards  of  Almighty  God, 
and  obtained  for  him  a  favorable  answer.  The  trials 
and  sufferings  which  purify  the  soul  on  its  road  to  per- 
fection, which  lead  to  the  acquisition  of  perfect  love, 
were  freely  bestowed  upon  him.  The  childlike  narra- 
tive, culled  from  the  daily  record  of  his  passing  thoughts, 
tells  us  of  his  struggles  and  his  love: 

"  Remorse  pursues  me  !"  he  exclaims.  "  My  Jesus, 
banish  the  demon  of  despair  !  My  devotion  has  van- 
ished, my  tears  are  dried  up,  thoughts  of  my  angel  and 
of  my  patron  no  longer  soothe  my  troubled  soul  !  Even 
Thy  remembrance,  my  Saviour,  and  that  of  Thy  Blessed 
Mother,  grow  dim  before  my  mental  gaze.  O  Jesus,  do 
not  forsake  me  !  Help  me  !  help  me  !  I  am  resolved 
not  to  omit  a  single  one  of  my  devotions  !" 

The  greater  his  sufferings,  the  greater  his  struggles, 
the  more  fervent  his  prayers.  "  Hear  me,  O  my  God," 
he  cried  ;  "  strengthen  and  increase  my  faith  !  Lead 
me  not  into  temptation.  O  Jesus,  Thou  who  hast  said, 
'  My  yoke  is  easy,  My  burden  light,'  have  mercy  on  me ! 
for  wheresoever  I  turn  my  eyes,  I  see  naught  but  obsta- 
cles and  difficulties.  Lord,  pardon  my  impatience  !" 


Trials  and  Sufferings.  75 

A  few  days  later  we  read:  "O  my  God,  this  dreadful 
state  has  come  on  me  again  !  O  my  Divine  Teacher, 
make  known  to  me  the  faults  that  have  merited  such 
punishment !  Were  my  faith  strong,  I  would  thank 
Thee  for  my  sufferings;  but,  alas,  I  feel  only  impatience, 
doubt,  and  discouragement !" 

We  cannot  behold  young  Neumann's  immediate  re- 
course to  his  Heavenly  Father  in  the  midst  of  his  mental 
sufferings  without  sentiments  of  edification  ;  but  still 
more  are  we  touched  by  his  childlike,  trustful  supplica- 
tions when  freed  for  a  time  from  temptation: 

"I  am  still  incapable  of  meditation,  but  I  feel  the 
necessity  of  speaking  to  Thee,  my  highest  Love  !  Do 
thou,  my  heart,  open  thyself  to  thy  Lord.  Receive  Him; 
do  not  offend  Him;  do  not  force  Him  to  separate  from 
thee  again.  I  foresee  shame  and  disgrace,  and  the 
prospect  fills  me  with  dread  ;  but  Thou,  my  Jesus,  art 
my  strength  !  Thou  wilt  not  permit  him  to  pine  away 
whom  Thou  hast  once  rescued  from  death.  I  am 
assaulted  by  the  demon  of  discouragement  and  despair; 
but  do  thou,  my  soul,  hold  fast  to  Jesus.  He  will  have 
mercy  on  thee !  This  temptation  is  like  remorse  of 
conscience;  with  difficulty  is  it  distinguished  from  it, 
and  with  still  greater  difficulty  is  it  overcome.  Jesus, 
Thou  knowest  how  much  I  love  Thee;  protect  me  from 
my  enemy!  How  faint-hearted,  how  childish  I  am!  Thou 
art  all-powerful,  my  Jesus,  and  yet  I  am  afraid  !  But  I 
feel  that  Thou  wilt  soon  grant  me  many  great  graces, 
since  I  have  so  little  consolation  on  earth  !  All  my  com- 
fort, all  my  joy  must  come  from  Thee.  Worldlings  may 
call  me  unhappy,  but  I  will  rejoice  in  Thee  alone.  Thou 
wilt  free  the  poor  sinner  from  his  burden;  Thou  wilt 
receive  him  again  into  Thy  favor.  My  heart  longs  for 
Thee  !  O  my  Jesus,  if  it  be  Thy  will  that  these  terrible 
temptations  against  faitli  should  again  assail  me,  I  be- 
seech Thee  suffer  me  not  to  fall!  Let  me  taste  their  full 
bitterness,  but  let  me  not  fall !  O  my  Lord,  my  God, 


76  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

I  cast  myself  entirely  into  Thy  hands !  Worn  out  by 
the  struggle,  I  will  rest  beneath  Thy  cross;  I  will  em- 
brace it;  I  will  kiss  it  as  the  symbol  of  my  victory !  O 
Mother  Mary,  pray  for  me,  a  poor  sinner;  pray  for  me 
in  my  desolation  of  soul!  Jesus,  be  merciful  to  me! 
Amen." 

On  the  following  day  he  thus  expresses  himself  :  "  All 
despise  me,  but  I  have  deserved  it.  All  avoid  me, — the 
bad  because  I  cannot  countenance  their  wickedness;  the 
good  because  they  find  in  me  only  sin  and  imperfection. 
I  am  alone,  despised  by  men,  and  in  thy  sight,  O  my 
Supreme  Good,  a  most  sinful  creature  !  The  joys  of  this 
world  I  hate,  and  of  heavenly  joys  I  am  unworthy.  My 
life  is  a  joyless  one  !" 

After  several  weeks  of  such  spiritual  desolation  God 
enlightened  and  strengthened  his  soul,  but  only  to  pre- 
pare him  for  fresh  sufferings.  June  n,  1835,  seems  to 
have  been  a  day  of  unusual  spiritual  gladness.  That 
evening  he  wrote:  "The  study  of  the  rubrics  of  Mass, 
and  especially  that  of  Canisius,  warmed  up  my  heart. 
True,  I  am  not  yet  entirely  relieved  from  my  fears,  but 
I  feel  far  nearer  to  Jesus  Christ.  Ah,  how  sad  has  been 
my  state  for  the  past  three  or  four  weeks  !  I  might  have 
committed  any  sin,  even  the  most  horrible,  had  not  God's 
mercy  protected  me  !  Truly  the  soul  without  God  is 
nothing.  My  Jesus,  my  God  and  my  King,  to  Thee  do 
I  return,  since  Thou  dost  call  me  !" 

These  sorrowful  outpourings  of  a  desolate  spirit 
strongly  remind  one  of  St.  Francis  de  Sales,  who  during 
his  career  as  a  student  neared  the  brink  of  despair 
through  a  similar  state  of  soul.  And,  like  that  great 
saint,  we  find  young  Neumann  protesting  in  accents  of 
love  that  he  will  never  abandon  his  God:  "The  spark  of 
faith  and  love  is  almost,  if  not  wholly,  extinguished  in 
my  soul.  What  shall  I  do  without  faith,  without  hope, 
without  love?  To  whom  shall  I  turn  if  my  God  casts 
me  off, — if,  on  account  of  my  sins,  He  withdraws  from 


Trials  and  Sufferings.  77 

me  the  graces  necessary  for  my  salvation  ?  My  soul, 
what  wilt  thou  do?  Thy  Redeemer  has  forsaken  thee, 
perhaps  forever.  His  merits  are  lost  to  a  soul  hardened 
in  malice.  Thou  mayest  knock  at  heaven's  gate,  but  it 
will  not  be  opened.  Thy  crimes  have  barred  it  against 
thee.  Thy  God  loved  thee,  but  thou  didst  flee  from  Him, 
and  now  He  leaves  thee  to  thyself — alone,  alone,  alone  ! 
No  friend,  no  consoler  will  rise  up  to  aid  thee,  for  thou 
hast  sinned  against  the  whole  world.  O  my  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  Thou  hast  indeed  forsaken  me  on  account  of  my 
sins,  but  I  will  never  abandon  Thee  !  My  observance  of 
Thy  commandments  will  still  be  pleasing  to  Thee,  and  I 
will  keep  them  as  far  as  I  am  able.  To  transgress  them 
would  be  to  increase  my  misery." 

The  nearer  Neumann  approached  the  end  of  his  de- 
sires, the  sharper  and  more  frequent  became  his  trials. 
God  permitted  all  kinds  of  temptations  to  combine  their 
force- in  order  to  torture  his  soul.  Disgust  for  his  voca- 
tion to  the  priesthood  first  assailed  him.  He  speaks  of 
it  in  these  terms:  "Self-love  demands  that  I  should  re- 
nounce the  priesthood,  since  its  uninterrupted  round  of 
duties  calls  for  the  sacrifice  of  every  earthly  comfort  and 
pleasure.  Cowardice  whispers  that  Jesus  did  not  die  for 
me,  that  I  am  a  reprobate,  that  I  shall  be  eternally  un- 
happy; then,  wherefore  devote  myself  in  this  world  to 
such  a  life  of  privation  ?  Would  that  I  could  find  some 
one  to  understand  the  state  of  my  soul !  If  I  felt  sure 
of  its  being  only  a  passing  temptation,  I  would  bear  it 
patiently." 

And  now  came  the  tempter,  holding  out  as  a  snare  to 
the  young  student's  innocence  the  thought  of  carnal 
gratifications.  His  journal  at  this  time  records  the  fol- 
lowing: 

"Temptations  against  the  holy  virtue  assail  me.  It  is 
long  since  I  was  molested  on  this  point.  I  imagined  all 
such  inclinations  dead  within  me.  Thank  God!  this  temp- 
tation is  more  easily  vanquished,  since  it  is  less  subtle 


78  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

than  pride,  vanity,  sloth,  anger,  etc.,  etc.  O  Queen  of 
those  virgins  that  follow  the  Lamb,  intercede  for  me  that 
I,  too,  may  remain  pure,  that  I,  too,  may  one  day  gaze 
upon  Thy  Divine  Son  !  Ye  saints  of  my  God,  have  com- 
passion on  me,  a  poor  sinner  !  Pray  for  me  that  God 
may  free  me  from  my  sins,  that  the  garment  of  innocence 
and  purity  of  heart  may  be  mine  !" 

His  earnest  prayers  and  supplications  were  abundantly 
rewarded,  not  by  a  release  from  sufferings  and  tempta- 
tions, but  by  the  bestowal  of  that  strong  and  dauntless 
love  which  always  and  in  all  occurrences  seeks  only  the 
greater  honor  of  God.  Wherefore  his  actions  from  this 
time  were  performed  with  a  spirit  of  greater  generosity 
which  sprang  from  a  heart  inflamed  with  purer  love. 
No  desire  now  animated  him  but  that  of  loving  and  serv- 
ing God,  suffering  and  laboring  for  God;  no  other  desire 
than  that  of  being  forever  united  with  Him.  He  multi- 
plied his  penances  and  exercises  of  devotion;  he  spent 
much  of  his  leisure  time  in  church,  heartily  lamenting 
the  sins  of  his  life.  He  cries  out  in  loving  accents: 

"  How  much  do  I  not  love  Thee,  O  my  Jesus  !  I  love 
Thee  with  my  whole  soul,  but  yet  'tis  not  enough.  The 
fear  of  being  condemned  on  account  of  my  sloth  still 
haunts  me.  Would  that  I  could  die  in  fulfilment  of  Thy 
good  pleasure,  O  Thou  sweet  Bridegroom  of  my  soul!  I 
have  only  one  desire,  that  of  being  with  Thee.  My  Lord 
Jesus,  my  Love,  my  All,  gladly  would  I  endure  hunger, 
thirst,  heat,  and  cold  to  remain  always  with  Thee  in  the 
Blessed  Sacrament !  Would  that  I  might  unceasingly 
weep  over  my  sins  at  Thy  sacred  feet !" 

The  following  lines  afford  a  beautiful  example  of  his 
disinterested  love  for  God: 

"  My  joy  of  heart,  my  feeling  of  love  for  my  Jesus,  were 
very  moderate  to-day.  When  I  felt  my  soul  trembling 
under  their  influence,  I  asked  Thee,  my  Jesus,  to  take 
such  sweetness  from  me,  and  to  give  me  instead  the  grace 
to  avoid  sin.  And  yet  perhaps  I  was  wrong  in  making 


Trials  and  Sufferings.  79 

such  a  request.  Is  it  for  me  to  determine  which  grace  is 
the  more  advantageous  to  me  ?" 

His  communications  with  Almighty  God  were  those 
of  a  loving  child  with  an  indulgent  father: 

"Where  art  Thou  in  my  heart,  O  Jesus?  Art  Thou 
pleased  with  me  ?  Do  I  not  often  pain  Thee  by  my  im- 
prudence ?  Teach  me  how  to  amend  my  ways.  Ah, 
how  foolish  I  am  !  I  forget  that  Thou  art  the  Physician 
of  the  sick;  wilt  Thou  not  take  pity  on  my  fainting  soul  ? 
Have  patience  with  me  still.  I  will  aim  at  rooting  out 
my  bad  habits.  I  rejoice  to  see  others  love  Thee.  Would 
that  I  could  infuse  into  all  hearts  a  burning  love  for 
Thee  !  How  glorified  wouldst  Thou  be  on  earth  if  every 
human  heart  were  an  altar,  on  which  every  human  will 
weje  laid  in  perfect  conformity  with  Thine,  to  be  con- 
sumed by  the  fire  of  Thy  love!"  Again:  "O  Infant 
Jesus,  I  desire  to  love  Thee,  to  love  and  embrace  Thee 
with  my  whole  soul !  I  desire  to  love  Thee  as  Thy  Holy 
Mother,  Thy  foster-father  loved  Thee  !  Oh,  that  I  had 
their  humility,  their  fidelity,  their  purity,  confidence, 
and  love  !  My  Divine  Redeemer,  grant  me  these  virtues  !" 

If  our  perfection  depends  upon  our  love  for  God,  and  if 
both  are  in  proportion  to  our  conformity  to  the  Divine 
Will,  we  must  conclude  that  John  Neumann,  even  as  a 
student,  attained  a  high  degree  of  sanctity.  The  ac- 
complishment of  God's  good  pleasure  formed  the  object 
of  all  his  aspirations.  "O  my  God,"  he  exclaims,  "  I 
have  consecrated  myself  to  thee!  Do  with  me  whatever 
is  most  pleasing  to  Thee!" 

The  gift  of  tears  was  again  bestowed  upon  him,  as  we 
see  by  the  following  ingenuous  remarks:  "  I  cannot  un- 
derstand how  it  is  that  the  fire  of  divine  love,  which  is 
enkindled  every  evening  in  my  long  communings  with 
Almighty  God,  can  become  extinguished  during  the 
night.  The  tears  which  I  shed  in  such  abundance  after 
evening  prayers  must  quench  its  flames,  for  in  the  morn- 
ing I  feel  nothing  but  dryness."  And  yet  we  know  how 


8o  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

faithfully,  even  during  the  periods  of  his  greatest  interior 
troubles,  he  had  embraced  every  opportunity  to  make 
himself  worthy  of  that  precious  and  exceptional  grace, 
the  gift  of  tears!  With  admirable  tenderness  of  con- 
science he  sought  out  the  cause  of  any  interruption  to 
his  childlike  intercourse  with  God;  and  with  deep  con- 
trition he  deplored  the  same,  firmly  resolving  to  amend. 
Once  after  the  usual  lamentations  respecting  his  spiritual 
aridity  he  added  these  words:  "But  I  richly  deserved  it 
for  reading  a  sonnet  that  was  not  quite  proper.  I  should 
not  have  read  it." 

His  great  love  for  poetry  led  him  to  purchase  a  volume 
of  Petrarch's  sonnets,  which,  however,  he  afterward  re- 
gretted in  these  terms:  "  Of  what  use  will  this  work  be  to 
me  ?  I  did  not  invoke  the  light  of  the  Holy  Ghost;  there- 
fore I  fell  into  the  occasion  of  sin."  For  the  same  reason  he 
resolved  to  give  up  the  reading  of  Shakespeare,  although 
he  found  it  of  great  service  to  him  in  acquiring  English. 
Horace  came  under  the  same  ban,  as  we  see  by  the  fol- 
lowing lines  written  on  another  occasion:  "  I  was  faith- 
ful to  all  my  resolutions  to-day  until  the  evening,  when  I 
read  one  of  Horace's  satires.  Its  rhetorical  beauty 
pleased  me.  But  all  profane  books,  especially  if  no  men- 
tion is  made  in  them  of  God,  distract  the  soul  and  ren- 
der it  unfit  for  meditation.  I  am  resolved,  therefore,  to 
give  up  such  reading,  or  to  indulge  in  it  only  when  some 
real  advantage  is  to  be  gained  from  it." 

He  had,  on  the  other  hand,  a  high  appreciation  of  the 
benefit  to  be  derived  from  the  use  of  good  books.  On  a 
certain  occasion,  after  the  erection  of  a  raised  seat  for 
the  reader  in  the  refectory,  his  comments  on  the  same 
end  by  these  significant  words:  "It  is  truly  wonderful 
how  the  reading  of  a  good  book  revives  piety,  infuses 
the  love  of  well-doing,  and  affords  subject-matter  for 
conversation  on  the  infinitely  good  God." 

Neumann  was,  as  he  tells  us  himself,  passionately  fond 
of  painting;  "  But,"  he  adds,  "I  will  give  it  up,  for  time 


Trials  and  Sufferings.  81 

is  too  precious  to  be  so  employed."  One  evening,  after 
his  examination  of  conscience,  he  wrote  the  following: 

"  O  my  God,  how  I  offended  Thee  by  my  distractions 
during  evening  prayers  !  Ought  I  not  to  give  up  play- 
ing checkers  ?  The  distractions  that  follow  those  games 
seem  to  demand  the  sacrifice.  I  will  not,  for  the  future, 
play  until  I  become  excited.  I  would  like  to  engage 
in  a  game  occasionally,  in  order  to  overcome  tempta- 
tions to  envy  at  the  success  of  others,  or  pleasure  at  their 
failure.  By  limiting  myself  in  this  particular  I  shall 
gain  more  time  for  my  studies.  Pardon  me,  dear  Lord, 
my  sin  of  this  evening.  I  will  no  more  offend  Thee  in 
this  way." 

A  few  days  after  penning  the  above,  we  find  him 
again  accusing  himself  in  the  same  strain:  "  The  dryness 
I  experienced  to-day  prevented  my  recalling  Thy  Divine 
Presence  as  frequently  as  I  should  have  done.  No  doubt 
it  arose  from  my  indulgence  in  chess.  I  will  play  chess 
no  more.  Heavenly  Father,  bless  my  resolution  !" 

Now  his  immortification  at  table  gives  rise  to  the 
following  remarks:  "Although  to-day  I  felt  somewhat 
devout,  and  fulfilled  all  my  duties  diligently,  yet  I  have 
not  been  free  from  a  certain  interior  trouble.  Doubtless 
it  arose  from  my  excess  in  eating,  for  during  breakfast 
I  was  inattentive  to  the  reading  of  the  Word  of  God." 

Again,  he  rejoices  in  having  complied  with  God's  will: 
"To-day,  after  our  walk,  I  felt  hungry,  and  I  thought  of 
buying  some  apples.  But,  my  God,  Thou  didst  not  per- 
mit me  to  carry  out  my  intention,  and  yet  the  hunger  I 
felt  did  not  prevent  my  getting  through  all  the  work  I 
had  intended.  Now  I  know  that  I  can  fast  and  work  at 
the  same  time,  and  I  will  often  mortify  my  appetite." 
And,  in  fact,  he  at  once  imposed  upon  himself  a  priva- 
tion by  making  over  to  one  of  his  needy  companions 
half  the  bread,  fish,  and  soup  destined  for  his  own  meal. 

Not  satisfied  with  the  punctual  observance  of  the 
seminary  rules  and  regulations,  his  love  of  God  and  de- 


82  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

sire  for  perfection  urged  him  to  map  out  for  himself  a 
still  stricter  mode  of  life.  His  great  object  was  to  spend 
every  moment  of  the  twenty-four  hours  in  the  manner 
most  pleasing  to  his  God.  And  here  again  he  felt  the 
need  of  a  director.  His  stock  of  self-confidence  was 
not  very  great.  He  dreaded  going  astray;  but,  after  in- 
voking the  Holy  Spirit,  he  formed  his  resolutions,  which 
he  committed  to  writing.  Five  o'clock  was  the  regular 
hour  for  rising,  but  Neumann  determined  to  advance 
it  an  hour  for  himself.  One  morning  he  failed  to  rise 
with  his  accustomed  alacrity;  and  we  find,  in  conse- 
quence, these  lines  recorded  in  his  journal :  "  My  soul, 
what  a  miserable  day!  We  have  displeased  our  God  by 
our  inconstancy  in  good  resolutions.  Although  awake 
at  four,  I  failed  to  rise  promptly,  owing  to  sloth  and 
carelessness.  The  thought  of  my  unfaithfulness  haunted 
me  even  in  prayer,  and  I  found  no  consolation.  O  my 
soul,  acknowledge  thy  sloth  and  ingratitude !  If  the 
Divine  Master  should  reject  so  sluggish  and  disobedient 
a  disciple,  thou  wouldst  surely  forfeit  eternal  happiness. 
How  easily  thou  mightest  have  fallen  into  some  great 
sin  if  His  grace  had  not  shielded  thee  !  What  wilt  thou 
do  with  this  poor  soul  of  mine,  O  Jesus?" 

Here  are  the  resolutions  above  referred  to  :  "  On  rising 
I  will  recite  the  morning  prayers  from  '  La  Journ6e  du 
Chretien'  ['The  Christian's  Day'],  and  in  the  evening  I 
will  say  the  seven  penitential  psalms,  with  the  usual 
prayers.  I  will  meditate  on  a  verse  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
ture every  day.  O  Holy  Spirit,  give  me  Thy  grace  to 
perform  all  this  well.  O  my  Jesus,  I  will  every  day  re- 
ceive Holy  Communion  spiritually,  and  offer  it  up  for 
the  prevention  of  sacrilegious  communions.  Lord,  in- 
crease in  me  the  effects  of  Holy  Communion.  In  my 
visits  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament  I  will  recite  the  psalms 
xiv.,  xxvi.,  and  Ixxxiii.  At  the  beginning  of  every  sacred 
function  I  will  say:  'O  good  God,  incline  unto  me  a 
favorable  ear ! '  In  church  I  will  sing  the  hymns  with 


Trials  and  Sufferings.  83 

the  people.  Every  day  I  will  read  a  chapter  of  the  '  Fol- 
lowing of  Christ,'  one  of  Canisius,  or  one  from  the 
'  Catechism  of  the  Council  of  Trent.'  At  every  change 
of  occupation  I  will  make  the  sign  of  the  cross,  in  order 
not  to  lose  sight  of  God's  presence.  I  will  be  more  punc- 
tual in  the  fulfilment  of  the  duties  of  my  state;  I  will 
labor  with  more  love  and  confidence.  Every  quarter  of 
an  hour  I  will  offer  myself  to  God  and  make  an  act  of 
love." 

Whilst  our  fervent  young  seminarian  was  aiming  with 
all  his  power  to  serve  his  Lord  and  Master  well,  he  could 
not  banish  the  apprehension  that  he  might  possibly  be  in 
error.  The  desire  for  a  guide  in  the  path  of  perfection 
still  pursued  him,  and  led  him  at  one  time  to  entertain 
the  idea  of  becoming  a  Jesuit.  "  It  is,"  he  says,  "  a  strict 
Order;  yet  if  I  live  piously,  Almighty  God  will  grant  me 
the  grace  to  comply  with  its  rules."  Again:  "O  my 
Jesus,  enlighten  my  confessor  that  he  may  make  known 
to  me  Thy  holy  will.  Behold  me  ready  to  fulfil  it!  The 
desire  to  be  a  Jesuit  haunts  me  again  to-day,  for  certain 
reports  have  so  inflamed  my  soul  that  I  long  to  conse- 
crate myself  entirely  to  God.  My  God,  give  me  to  know 
Thy  will;  direct  my  steps !  St.  John,  pray  for  me 
that,  like  thyself,  I  may  become  a  holy  priest.  I  resolve 
to  lead  the  austere  life  of  a  missionary."  Again  he  says: 
"  The  wish  to  be  a  Jesuit  is  stronger  than  ever  to-day, 
and  I  desire  especially  to  remain  here  several  years 
more.  The  time  spent  in  the  novitiate  and  the  year  of 
probation  would  greatly  conduce  to  my  spiritual  advance- 
ment. Doubtless  there  are  many  good  confessors  among 
those  fathers,  and  I  would  be  wonderfully  assisted  by 
the  society  of  so  many  saintly  men.  Thy  will  be  done, 
O  Lord  !  Thou  seest  that  the  resolution  to  serve  Thee 
is  firmly  fixed  in  my  heart.  I  am  resolved  to  suffer  every 
torment  of  soul  and  body  for  Thee,  my  Jesus  ;  yes, 
even  death  itself.  Do  Thou  prepare  the  hearts  of  my 
beloved  family  and  friends,  that  our  separation  may 


84  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

not  afflict  them  too  deeply.  Indemnify  them  for  the 
pain  which  my  obedience  to  Thy  commands  will  cause 
them." 

The  president  of  the  seminary  had  on  several  differ- 
ent occasions  strongly  urged  the  young  seminarian  to 
enter  the  Society  of  Jesus.  His  motive  in  so  doing  was, 
perhaps,  the  thought  that,  in  an  Order  which  was  accom- 
plishing so  much  for  the  Church,  Neumann  could  more 
easily  carry  out  his  project  of  becoming  a  missionary  in 
America.  His  advice,  however,  produced  just  the  opposite 
effect  upon  the  young  student,  as  we  see  by  the  follow- 
ing remarks:  "  The  president  spoke  to  me  to-day  of  the 
Jesuits.  He  praised  their  institutions,  and  showed  me 
a  letter  just  received.  The  writer  recorded,  as  an  in- 
stance of  obedience,  the  account  of  a  certain  Jesuit  who, 
on  his  death-bed,  expired  only  after  having  obtained 
leave  from  his  Superior  to  do  so.  Then,  with  a  signifi- 
cant look,  the  president  went  on  to  say  that  he  had  been 
instrumental  in  obtaining  an  entrance  into  the  Order 
for  several  who  had  so  distinguished  themselves  as  to 
authorize  his  proposing  others;  that  a  letter  of  recom- 
mendation from  him  would  open  the  doors  to  a  candi- 
date, etc.  But  I  feel  very  little  inclination  to  accept  his 
services,  for  the  way  in  which  he  offered  them  makes 
me  doubt  his  sincerity.  If  I  knew  it  to  be  Thy  holy 
will,  my  Jesus,  I  would  willingly  take  the  step.  I  beg 
Thee,  O  my  God,  to  let  me  see  clearly  what  I  ought  to 
do!" 

To  be  a  Jesuit  was  not,  however,  his  vocation.  Some 
circumstances  about  this  time  diverted  his  attention  to 
a  certain  undertaking  which,  unfortunately,  was  never 
carried  out.  In  May,  1835,  Rev.  Father  Dichtl  contem- 
plated the  establishment  of  a  mission-seminary.  In  this 
pious  and  enlightened  priest  Neumann  had  unbounded 
confidence.  The  hope  that  under  his  prudent  guidance 
light  would  dawn  upon  his  soul,  and  anxiety  as  to  his 
future  career  cease,  was  a  powerful  inducement  for  the 


Trials  and  Sufferings.  85 

young  seminarian  to  view  the  plan  with  an  eye  of  ap- 
proval. But  this  was  not  the  only  motive  that  enlisted 
his  sympathy;  his  far-seeing  glance  discovered  other  and 
more  cogent  reasons  for  wishing  well  to  the  projected 
institution.  May  30,  1835,  the  journal  records  these  re- 
marks: "  For  me,  O  Jesus,  to  enter  the  mission  seminary 
which  Thy  servant,  Rev.  Father  Dichtl,  thinks  of  estab- 
lishing will,  I  think,  contribute  more  to  Thy  glory  than 
my  joining  the  Jesuits  would  do.  To  see  me  a  secular 
priest  and  a  missionary  might  encourage  many  young 
students  of  theology  to  follow  my  example.  Besides, 
would  not  the  contributions  to  the  St.  Leopold  Society 
increase  in  Bohemia  if  a  missionary  were  to  go  forth 
from  this  country?  May  Thy  light,  O  my  Jesus,  en- 
lighten my  soul!" 

Here  we  discover  the  object  dearest  to  young  Neu- 
mann's heart,  the  only  undertaking  which  he  strove  to 
promote  to  the  best  of  his  ability — the  glory  of  God, 
the  salvation  of  souls.  His  journal  of  May  23d  of  the 
same  year  is  still  more  explicit  on  these  points.  Moved 
by  the  consideration  of  the  pressing  needs  of  the  times 
in  which  he  lived,  he  casts  around  for  means  to  rouse  the 
dormant  zeal  of  his  companions.  Behold  his  words: 
"It  would  indeed  be  well  if  our  young  seminarians  who 
really  aspire  to  being  good  priests,  to  educate  a  new  gen- 
eration pleasing  to  God,  would  unite  more  intimately, 
would  form  a  close  if  not  a  distinct  society  whose  mem- 
bers would  severally  labor  under  the  wise  direction  of 
some  one  leader.  True,  the  priesthood  was  instituted 
for  this  general  object;  it  has  the  same  ends  and  the  same 
obligations.  But  the  spirit  of  Christ  and  His  Apostles, 
by  which  they  should  be  animated,  has  grown  cold. 
Many  have  but  little  faith,  and  others  are  wanting  in 
that  zeal  which  quickened  Christ  and  stimulated  the 
Apostles  to  bear  all  sorts  of  trials  and  hardships.  Reli- 
gious Orders  of  priests  were  soon  formed.  As  long  as 
the  spirit  of  the  founders  animated  the  sons,  they  accom- 


86  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

plished  an  extraordinary  amount  of  good.  But,  however 
strict,  elaborate,  or  determinate  the  rules  drawn  up  by 
the  founder  may  be,  human  artifice,  or  rather  diabolical 
cunning,  can  discover  loop-holes  through  which  the  re- 
ligious may  communicate  with  the  world. 

"  If  Superiors  are  not  in  harmony  with  the  spirit,  of 
the  founder,  abuses,  defects,  scandals  will  constantly 
creep  in,  to  convert  an  asylum  of  godliness  into  a  home 
for  the  lowest  passions  of  man.  How  fatal  has  not  State 
influence  been  upon  the  internal  well-being  of  reli- 
gious Orders!  Where  now  is  your  spirit,  St.  ?" 

(Here  follow  the  names  of  several  religious  founders.) 
"What  do  the  religious  in  your  monasteries  think  of 
you  ?  The  rules  of  an  Order  should  never  be  tampered 
with,  even  in  the  smallest  particular,  by  the  members  of 
a  community,  much  less  by  Sta^e  officials.  What  is 
holy  should  be  respected  as  such.  Why,  in  so  many  re- 
ligious houses  whose  duty  it  is  to  send  forth  mission- 
aries filled  with  heavenly  piety  and  wisdom,  is  there  so 
little  knowledge — indeed,  no  knowledge  at  all — of  that 
striving  after  perfection,  that  sanctity  which  should 
characterize  them  ?  And  look  at  the  wretched  state  of 
the  confessional!  Who  goes  to  convents  nowadays  to 
become  perfect  ?  Poverty  drives  some,  the  hope  of  a 
comfortable  life  attracts  others,  ambition  is  perhaps  the 
motive  that  impels  others.  How  does  it  happen  that 

the "  (here  follow  the  names  of  certain  Orders,  male 

and  female)  "are  nearly  the  only  ones  that  harbor  saintly 
souls  ?  Ah!  it  is  because  they  are  the  most  lowly.  They 
are  despised  by  the  world  on  account  of  their  poverty 
and  rigid  discipline.  O  Humility,  thou  dost  effect  this!" 

Joys  and  sorrows  and  trials  served  only  to  draw  John 
Neumann  more  closely  to  his  God.  His  life  now  became 
one  continued  meditation  on  heavenly  things,  one  series 
of  uninterrupted  prayer.  Once  whilst  enduring  some 
physical  ailment,  he  wrote:  "For  nearly  a  week  the 
pain  in  my  right  shoulder  has  been  constant.  But,  not- 


Trials  and  Sufferings.  87 

withstanding  its  intensity,  I  would  rather  bear  it  than 
the  hopelessness  of  suffering  in  vain."  Again:  "Dear 
Lord,  my  throat  is  very  sore  to-day,  but  I  thank  Thee  for 
it!  Bodily  ills  keep  Thy  remembrance  ever  before  me, 
my  Supreme  Good!  Pardon  me,  O  Lord,  if  I  have  done 
wrong  in  applying  remedies!  I  have  only  myself  to 
blame  for  it.  Punish  me  if  Thou  wilt,  but  forgive  me 
likewise.  Thy  displeasure  would  be  for  me  a  far  greater 
evil!"  The  laughter  and  ridicule  which  he  sometimes 
had  to  endure  from  his  companions  he  knew  how  to  turn 
to  good  account,  by  offering  all  to  God.  Behold  the  proof 
in  the  following  lines,  written  with  charming  ingenuous- 
ness on  some  such  occasion: 

"  My  God,  Thy  hand  lay  heavily  upon  me  to-day ! 
Shame,  sadness,  and  vexation  were  mine.  My  cassock 
came  home,  but  it  did  not  fit  around  the  neck.  The 
students  all  laughed  at  me.  My  neck  was  the  source  of 
greater  vexation  to  me  to-day  than  my  sore  throat  some 
time  ago.  But  I  thank  Thee,  O  my  Jesus,  for  this  op- 
portunity of  mortifying  my  vanity!  I  see  now  that  I 
ought  to  have  recourse  to  Thee  more  frequently." 

In  order  to  have  the  means  of  procuring  good  books, 
Neumann  imposed  upon  himself  numerous  privations, 
as  well  in  clothing  as  in  other  things.  The  following  is 
an  instance  of  this.  On  a  certain  New- Year's  Day  the 
students  of  the  seminary  went,  as  usual,  to  offer  their 
greetings  to  the  Archbishop.  Young  Neumann  could 
not  form  one  of  the  number,  as  his  old  torn  cassock  was 
no  longer  presentable.  He  bore  the  humiliation  with 
characteristic  resignation,  exclaiming,  as  he  turned  to 
his  beloved  books,  "  My  God,  do  Thou  comfort  me!" 

He  prepared  by  assiduous  application,  and  still  more 
by  earnest  prayer,  for  his  examinations,  whilst  at  the 
same  time  offering  to  God,  in  the  humility  of  his  heart, 
any  possible  failure  that  might  follow.  Such  a  result 
with  its  attendant  disgrace  he  was  willing  to  endure  if 
it  were  more  agreeable  to  God,  more  salutary  to  his  own 


88  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

soul.  One  day  he  thus  addressed  himself  to  God:  "Our 
new  professor  will  examine  us  to-morrow.  O  my  God, 
give  me  skill  and  courage!  But  should  my  desire  pro- 
ceed from  vanity,  hear  not  my  prayer!  Yet,  Lord,  my 
heart  still  bleeds  from  former  wounds,  have  mercy  on 
me  now  !" 

On  June  3,  1835,  we  find  him  delivering  his  first  trial- 
sermon.  As  usual,  he  prepared  for  it  by  imploring 
assistance  from  on  high,  and  begging  to  be  preserved 
from  discouragement  should  his  effort  prove  a  failure. 
"My  God,"  he  cries,  "I  have  indeed  deserved  but 
shame  and  chastisement.  But  of  what  use  would  be 
a  disheartened  missionary  ?"  The  sermon,  however, 
turned  out  well,  as  we  infer  from  the  usual  evening 
record:  "My  Jesus,  who  didst  shield  me  to-day  from 
disgrace,  who  didst  infuse  into  my  soul  courage  to 
preach  Thy  holy  Word,  what  thanks  can  I  render  Thee  ? 
By  this  Thou  hast  given  me  a  sign  that  I  am  chosen  to 
announce  Thy  Gospel  to  souls  redeemed  by  Thy  Blood. 
My  first  trial-sermon  was  preached  to-day  in  pres- 
ence of  Professor  M .  He  found  some  fault  with  my 

reading  of  the  last  part  of  the  Gospel,  some  fault  with 
the  connection  of  certain  words.  He  also  criticised  one 
of  my  gestures.  The  expression  carnival  he  did  not  like, 
because  of  my  youth.  The  composition,  however,  as 
well  as  the  delivery,  met  his  approbation.  Jesus,  keep 
me  in  holy  humility  !" 

True  love  for  God  begets  a  corresponding  love  for 
one's  neighbor.  As  John  Neumann's  love  of  God  may 
be  termed  magnanimous,  so  also  may  his  love  of  his 
neighbor  be  judged  worthy  of  our  highest  admiration. 
His  was  a  charity  which  sought  to  help  and  console 
wherever  help  or  consolation  was  needed.  When  the 
bestowal  of  active  aid  was  not  in  his  power,  his  heart's 
best  sympathy,  his  earnest  prayers,  were  freely  poured 
out  on  his  suffering  brother.  His  own  heaviest  trials, 
his  aridity  and  desolation,  even  those  most  painful 


Trials  and  Siifferings.  89 

temptations  against  faith  which  shrouded  his  soul  in 
darkness,  could  offer  no  hindrance  to  his  sharing  in  his 
neighbor's  griefs.  "My  God!"  he  exclaims,  "  how  are 
they  not  to  be  pitied  who  have  no  faith,  or  who  are  weak 
in  their  faith  !  They  believe  not  in  Thee,  O  my  Jesus  ! 
Enlighten  them,  I  beseech  Thee !  For  this  end  I  offer 
Thee  the  troubles  I  am  enduring  in  my  own  wretched 
state  !" 

Sometimes  we  find  the  journal  recording  loving  com- 
plaints to  God  of  his  being  forgotten,  forsaken  by  his 
friends.  Letters  from  his  loved  companion  Schmid,  to 
whom  he  so  often  alludes,  seem  not  to  have  been  forth- 
coming as  frequently  as  he  desired.  Witness  the  follow- 
ing: "I  would  gladly  write  to  dear  Schmid,  could  I  re- 
frain from  chiding  him  for  his  silence.  It  would  not  do 
to  reproach  him  on  his  feast-day;  rather  should  I  seek 
to  give  him  pleasure.  I  will  wait,  O  Lord,  if  it  so  pleases 
Thee,  till  I  am  in  a  brighter  mood." 

On  October  23d  the  good  friend  above  referred  to 
made  known  his  intention  of  entering  the  Collegiate 
Society  of  Hohenfuhrt,  a  piece  of  information  which  was 
far  from  gratifying  to  Neumann.  Both  had  agreed  to 
labor  together  in  America,  and  here  now  was  a  cloud 
overcasting  that  bright  prospect.  In  his  chagrin  and 
disappointment  Neumann  turned  to  God:  "If  I  did  but 
know  it  to  be  an  inspiration  from  Thee,  my  God  !  Have 
mercy  on  him  !  Oh,  that  it  be  not  vanity  or  discourage- 
ment which  has  induced  him  to  take  this  resolution!  A 
resolve  to  change  one's  state,  to  give  up  a  pious  design, 
ought  not  to  be  the  result  of  one  day's  reflection." 

Among  all  his  college  companions  we  find  mention 

made  of  only  one,  of  L ,  who  seems  to  have  been  a 

man  after  his  own  heart.  He  rejoices  on  one  occasion 

that  L had  acquitted  himself  creditably  in  a  certain 

discourse  before  Professor  M .  And  again,  he  re- 
marks: "I  spoke  to-day  with  my  good  friend  L on 

the  subject  of  the  priesthood,  the  confessional,  etc.  My 


90  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

God,  strengthen  him  that  he  may  become  a  good  priest, 
a  consolation  and  guiding  angel  to  Thy  people  !" 

Rev.  Father  Dichtl,  of  whom  we  have  already  made 
mention,  was  stationed  at  the  cathedral  of  Budweis. 
With  evangelical  freedom  he  rebuked  the  soldiers,  and 
especially  the  officers,  for  their  habitual  vices,  earnestly 
reminding  them  of  their  obligations  as  Christians.  This 
frankness  on  the  part  of  the  zealous  priest  so  exasper- 
ated certain  unruly  spirits  among  them  that  it  was 
deemed  necessary  for  him  to  seek  safety  in  flight.  On 
hearing  of  the  affair,  Neumann  rejoiced  at  the  oppor- 
tunity offered  his  friend  to  suffer  for  Christ's  sake,  and 
thus  alludes  to  it  in  his  journal:  "This  day  will  ever  be 
a  memorable  one  to  me,  since  it  brought  me  the  news  of 
Father  Dichtl's  having  to  flee  from  the  revenge  of  the 
soldiers  whose  vices  he  had  reproved.  O  my  Jesus, 
Thou  knowest  how  my  heart  beat  for  joy  when  I  learned 
that  Thy  faithful  servant  had  had  an  opportunity  to  dis- 
play his  courage  and  fidelity  in  Thy  service.  O  Jesus, 
grant  me,  also,  and  grant  to  all  Thy  priests,  the  courage 
to  resist  the  world  !" 

In  proportion  to  his  joy  at  seeing  God  glorified  by 
word  or  deed  was  his  sorrow  on  witnessing  any  offence 
against  Him.  "  I  experienced  a  sweet  feeling  of  devo- 
tion," he  writes,  "on  visiting  the  holy  relics  in  the 
churches  of  Prague;  but  I  was  indignant  on  seeing  the 
disrespect  shown  to  holy-water." 

Neumann,  as  we  may  believe,  paid  few  visits  of  cere- 
mony. The  world  and  its  formalities  had  no  charms  for 
one  whose  thoughts  and  aspirations  soared  to  a  higher 
level.  Once  only  do  we  find  his  journal  recording  such  a 
visit.  He  seems  to  have  been  unable  to  avoid  it;  but,  as 
was  his  wont,  he  turned  it  to  good  account  by  referring 
it  to  God:  "Dear  holy  patron,"  he  exclaims,  "Madame 

C has  sent  for  me.  I  must  call  upon  her.  Do  thou 

procure,  if  it  so  please  God,  that  I  may  be  put  to  shame. 
My  God,  if  such  be  Thy  will,  I  will  visit  this  lady.  Lead 


Trials  and  Sufferings.  91 

me  as  Thou  didst  lead  Lydia  to  St.  Paul;  yet,  if  it  be 
Thy  good  pleasure  for  all  to  despise  me,  may  Thy  will  be 
done!"  Next  day  he  wrote:  "I  have  been  to  Madame 

C 's.  She  received  me  like  a  mother.  Oh,  how  good, 

how  pious  and  charitable  she  must  be  !  Be  merciful  to 
her,  my  Jesus  !  She  showed  me  some  writings  of  the 
Empress  Caroline  Augusta,  and  of  our  Emperor  Francis 
who  now  sleeps  in  the  Lord.  My  God,  grant  our  present 
Emperor  the  spirit  of  piety,  for  they  say  that  he  sup- 
pressed the  convent  at  Welk." 

As  Neumann  approached  the  term  of  his  desires,  the 
greater  became  the  obstacles  to  their  execution.  Hope 
held  out  to  him  her  flattering  promises,  yet  only  to  in- 
crease his  disappointment  when  they  remained  unful- 
filled. His  confidence,  however,  firm  as  the  basis  on 
which  it  rested,  God  Himself,  no  difficulty  could  daunt. 
On  June  22,  1835,  he  received  a  cheering  letter  from  his 
friend  Schmid.  Its  effect  upon  him  we  may  gather  from 
the  lines  which  noted  its  reception:  "O  my  Jesus,  I  know 
not  whether  to  weep  for  joy  or  grief !  Yesterday,  after 
the  procession  of  Corpus  Christi,  I  received  Schmid's 
letter  asking  whether  I  did  not  want  to  accompany  him 
to  Strasburg  and  thence  to  Philadelphia.  Thou  know- 
est,  O  my  Jesus,  that  I  would  willingly  suffer  and  die  for 
Thee,  though  I  am  all  unworthy  of  such  a  grace  !  But 
my  poor  parents — how  will  they  endure  the  separation  ? 
I  wish  to  be  entirely  Thine.  Strengthen  them,  I  beseech 
Thee,  since  Thou  callest  me  !" 

On  the  following  day  Neumann  discovered  that  the 
news  conveyed  by  his  friend's  letter  was  ill-founded. 
He  says:  "  I  was  speaking  to  the  president  to-day,  and  I 
told  him,  among  other  things,  that  Father  Dichtl  in- 
tended to  take  seminarians  to  Strasburg,  thence  to  sail 
next  spring  for  America.  But  he  replied  that  Father 
Dichtl  had  written  to  him  contradicting  the  rumor.  My 
God,  Thy  will  be  done !  My  own  plans  are  ever  before 
my  mind;  and  the  thought  of  Jesus,  the  Almighty  One, 


92  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

who  will  aid  me  to  fulfil  His  blessed  will,  is  never  absent 
from  me." 

The  separation  from  family  and  friends,  the  dangers 
and  hardships  consequent  on  a  missionary  life  in 
America,  offered  prospects  far  from  seductive  to  nature. 
The  difficulties  of  such  an  undertaking  were  fully  com- 
prehended by  Neumann,  for  he  says,  June  29,  1835: 
"  Whilst  pondering,  last  evening,  on  my  resolution,  sepa- 
ration from  home  appeared  to  me  so  bitter  that  I  burst 
into  tears.  My  Jesus,  if  it  be  Thy  will,  increase  my  suf- 
ferings, but  hear  my  prayers  !  Let  my  resolve  be  put  in 
execution  !  With  no  other  guide  than  Thyself,  O  Lord,  I 
stand  on  the  outskirts  of  an  immense  region  full  of 
dangers  and  difficulties.  The  final  step  once  taken,  there 
will  be  no  looking  back.  No  fond  parents,  no  devoted 
brother  and  sisters,  no  kind  friends  will  greet  my  land- 
ing on  those  far-off  shores.  I  shall  meet  none  but 
strangers.  There,  indeed,  I  shall  find  unbelievers  who 
scoff  at  Thee,  my  Jesus,  but  many  souls,  also,  who 
hunger  to  know  Thy  Word,  O  most  merciful  Saviour  !" 

Neumann  had  hoped  to  be  ordained  before  his  depart- 
ure for  the  scene  of  his  future  labors.  To  bestow  the 
priestly  benediction  upon  his  beloved  parents,  to  cele- 
brate his  first  Mass  in  the  midst  of  his  family  and  friends, 
would  have  gone  far  to  assuage  the  grief  of  parting. 
But  on  July  3d  he  learned  through  his  friend  that  they 
would  be  deprived  of  this  consolation;  that  they  would 
be  obliged  to  start  before  their  ordination. 

As  usual,  Neumann  had  recourse  to  God:  "My  Lord 
and  my  God,  how  sad  Schmid's  letter  made  me  to-day  ! 
I  must  set  out  on  my  journey  without  giving  the  priestly 
blessing  to  my  dear  parents  and  friends,  without  offer- 
ing the  Holy  Sacrifice  for  their  spiritual  welfare.  This 
thought  grieves  me  to  the  heart.  It  will  render  the  sep- 
aration more  difficult,  O  my  Jesus  !  But  I  am  Thine, 
my  parents  are  Thine  !  Multiply  my  sorrows,  but  pour 
out  on  them  Thy  consolations.  I  have  consecrated  my- 


Trials  and  Sufferings.  93 

self  entirely  to  Thee;  Thou  art  my  only  Lord  !  Be  mer- 
ciful to  my  parents,  as  also  to  those  of  my  friend  Schmid  ! 
I  will  bless  Thee  for  every  blow,  since  Thou  dost  deal  it 
in  mercy  !  As  I  have  recognized  Thy  holy  will,  so  will 
I  conform  to  it  !" 

On  the  following  day,  July  4th,  he  learned  that  holy 
orders  were  to  be  conferred  upon  all  the  seminarians, 
with  the  exception  of  those  belonging  to  the  diocese  of 
Budweis.  The  reasons  for  this  exception  we  shall  meet 
further  on.  Neumann's  humiliation  at  having  been  put 
off  was  faithfully  recorded  in  his  journal  of  this  date: 

"  I  am  quite  disheartened  to-day.  The  seminarians  of 
Prague  and  Koniggratz  will  be  ordained,  though  those 
cities  have  a  larger  number  of  priests  than  Budweis." 

The  last  day  of  his  stay  at  Prague  was  one  of  intense 
anxiety  to  Neumann.  The  final  examinations  after  a 
twelve  years'  course  naturally  claimed  his  time  and  at- 
tention, whilst  his  soul  was  a  prey  to  interior  sufferings, 
perplexity,  and  doubt.  His  journal  of  the  7th  runs  as 
follows : 

"  How  gladly,  O  my  God,  would  I  thank  Thee  for  the 
innumerable  benefits  Thou  dost  heap  upon  me  !  Yes- 
terday my  examinations  ended  happily,  even  more  hap- 
pily than  I  dared  to  hope.  But  my  approaching  depart- 
ure from  Prague,  the  postponement  of  my  ordination, 
and  the  arrival  of  my  brother  and  cousin  Janson  from 
Munich,  distract  me.  I  feel  discouraged.  My  cousin 
came  to  be  present  at  my  ordination,  not  knowing  of  its 
having  been  deferred.  His  affection  for  me  brought  him 
to  Prague,  but  I  can  now  afford  him  no  gratification." 

Finally,  on  July  8,  1835,  the  moment  of  release  arrived, 
and  he  set  out  from  Prague  homeward-bound,  his  feel- 
ings very  foreign  to  what  might  be  expected  from  the 
successful  termination  of  a  twelve  years'  course  of  study. 
The  truth  was  this:  the  young  seminarian  felt  very  un- 
certain about  his  ordination,  the  first  and  necessary  step 
toward  the  attainment  of  his  noble  ambition.  Added  to 


94  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

this  was  the  humiliation  of  receiving  a  certificate  with 
"  Moral  Conduct,  First  Class."  * 

In  allusion  to  this  circumstance  he  says  :  "  I  left 
Prague  feeling  pretty  calm,  although  with  a  foreboding 
of  unpleasant  things.  That  '  Moral  Conduct,  First 
Class'  embittered  my  joy  at  the  completion  of  my 
career  as  a  student.  Only  in  resignation  to  the  will  of 
God  did  I  find  comfort.  I  thank  Thee,  O  my  God,  that 
during  this  time  my  faith  did  not  waver,  else  I  might 
have  perished  !" 

*  It  would  appear  from  this  that  there  was  a  higher  testimonial 
awarded  at  the  seminary  which  Neumann  failed  to  attain. 


Preparations  for  Departure  to  America.     95 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Preparations  for  Departure  to  America. 

ON  the  morning  of  July  icth  Neumann  arrived  at 
his  father's  house  dispirited,  as  we  have  seen  in 
the  last  chapter,  and  far  from  certain  as  to  his  future. 
And  indeed,  viewed  in  the  most  favorable  light,  his  pros- 
pects were  not  cheering.  The  great  object  of  all  his  de- 
sires, the  work  of  the  missions,  was  still  far  from  his 
grasp ;  the  diocese  of  Budweis  possessed  more  than  a 
sufficient  number  of  clerical  workmen  for  all  its  needs, 
and  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop,  with  his  eighty  years 
and  feeble  health,  was  in  no  hurry  to  ordain  supernu- 
merary priests.  Permission  to  leave  the  country  could 
not  easily  be  obtained,  the  episcopal  consistory  opposing 
determined  opposition  to  such  departures.  As  to  his 
travelling  expenses,  Neumann,  not  wishing  to  tax  his 
parents,  hoped  to  have  them  defrayed  by  the  St.  Leopold 
Society  of  Vienna.  Supposing  all  the  above  obstacles 
cleared  away  from  his  path,  there  still  remained  the 
most  painful  and  difficult  of  all,  that  of  breaking  the 
news  to  his  family.  He  shrank  from  causing  them  pain, 
whilst  his  own  heart  bled  at  the  thought  of  separation 
from  home  and  friends. 

This  delay  and  uncertainty  caused  him  much  uneasi- 
ness, as  appears  from  his  journal  of  the  first  days  of  va- 
cation. "  I  am  in  a  most  embarrassing  position,"  he  says, 
"and  to  disclose  my  resolution  to  my  parents  seems  al- 
most impossible.  That  note,  '  First  Class  '  in  moral  con- 
duct, fills  me  with  dissatisfaction.  God  knows  my  efforts. 
I  detest  this  delay  to  my  eager  wishes,  and  I  doubt  if 
my  application  for  the  needed  travelling  funds  will  be 


96  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

successful.  My.  parents  and  family  will  surely  oppose 
my  project,  and  my  own  heart  sinks  at  the  thought  of 
separation." 

Meanwhile  Neumann  failed  not  to  improve,  as  far  as 
he  was  able,  this  tedious  period  of  hope  and  fear.  He 
took  counsel  of  several  pious  and  learned  men,  who 
severally  approved  the  resolution  which  Divine  Provi- 
dence appeared  to  sanction  in  the  following  remarkable 
manner.  About  this  time,  Right  Reverend  Francis  Pat- 
rick Kenrick,  Bishop  of  Philadelphia,  empowered  the 
director  of  the  Strasburg  seminary  to  engage  young 
priests  or  theological  students  for  the  American  mis- 
sions. The  director  applied  to  Rev.  Father  Dichtl  to 
know  if  such  candidates  could  be  found  in  Bohemia. 
Father  Dichtl  was  the  confessor  of  Neumann's  personal 
friend,  and  was  well  acquainted  with  the  desires  and 
plans  of  both.  It  was,  consequently,  highly  gratifying 
to  him  to  be  able  to  name  the  two  young  seminarians  to 
the  director  as  aspirants  for  the  American  missions.  He 
took  a  lively  interest  in  the  realization  of  their  long- 
cherished  intentions,  and  to  him,  under  God,  must  be  at- 
tributed its  success,  as  well  as  that  of  many  other  good 
works. 

But  as  there  was  no  prospect  of  their  receiving  holy 
orders  under  five  or  six  months,  the  zealous  priest  ad- 
vised them  to  set  out  at  once  and  await  their  ordination 
in  America. 

In  the  interim,  Neumann  had  recourse  to  prayer.  He 
spent  much  of  his  time  in  pious  pilgrimages  to  the  vari- 
ous shrines  in  the  neighborhood  of  Prachatitz,  with  an 
occasional  visit  to  one  or  other  of  his  fellow-students. 

On  the  second  day  after  his  return  home  he  went  to 
Gojau,  a  well-known  sanctuary  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, 
and  thence  proceeded  to  Krumau  and  Goldenkron,  little 
towns  in  the  neighborhood.  The  last-mentioned  place 
made  a  deep  impression  upon  him,  as  he  tells  us  in  his 
journal: 


Preparations  for  Departure  to  America.     97 

"The  sight  of  the  empty  church  and  the  dilapidated, 
desecrated  convent  drew  tears  to  my  eyes.  What  little 
Christian  sentiment  do  these  words  express,  '  Work  is 
more  pleasing  to  God  than  prayer  !'  Men  seek  to  justify 
the  suppression  of  monasteries  on  the  plea  that  they 
foster  idleness." 

On  July  i4th  he  went  to  Budweis,  hoping  to  push  for- 
ward the  affair  nearest  his  heart.  Here  he  met  some 
encouragement  from  his  friends,  as  we  learn  from 
the  following  remarks:  "I  arrived  in  Budweis  on  the 
evening  of  the  i4th,  but  felt  too  despondent  for  any  con- 
versation with  Schmid.  Next  day,  however,  I  met  him, 
and  a  talk  with  him  did  me  immense  good.  Together 
we  called  on  the  rector  of  the  seminary,  Father  Dichtl, 
who  received  us  most  kindly.  His  words,  '  In  your  cer- 
tificate I  have  given  you  distinguished  in  every  branch,' 
cheered  me  considerably.  The  reception  from  my  old 
companions  was  cordial.  I  do  not  know  whether  they 
have  been  informed  of  my  project  or  not.  May  our  ex- 
ample inflame  their  charity  more  and  more!  P is  a 

perfect  Christian.  His  humility  shines  forth  in  word 

and  deed.  S was  depressed:  mental  troubles.  May 

God  be  with  him!  The  Right  Reverend  Bishop  gave  us 
hopes  of  being  ordained  soon,  though  he  said  nothing 
definite  as  to  the  time." 

Nearly  three  weeks  had  now  elapsed  since  his  return 
from  Prague,  and  he  had  not  yet  ventured  to  disclose 
his  hopes  and  desires  to  his  family.  At  last,  however,  a 
favorable  opportunity  presented  itself,  of  which  he  hast- 
ened to  make  use.  In  a  few  words,  clear  and  decisive, 
he  unfolded  to  his  mother  and  sisters  his  views  and  in- 
tentions, his  ardent  desires  to  labor  in  the  American 
missions,  and  his  firm  resolution  to  do  so.  His  pious 
mother,  who  may  have  suspected  her  son's  design,  ex- 
hibited neither  surprise  nor  disapprobation.  With  ma- 
ternal solicitude  she  set  forth  in  lively  colors  the  dangers 
and  hardships  of  the  missionary  life;  but  in  such  a  tone 


98  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

and  manner  as  to  reassure  her  son  and  give  him  to  see 
that  from  her,  at  least,  he  would  meet  with  no  violent 
opposition.  His  sisters,  however,  were  not  so  easily  won 
over  to  his  views.  It  was  hard  to  reconcile  themselves 
to  the  thought  of  giving  up  so  dear  a  brother,  perhaps 
forever.  They  left  no  means  in  their  power  untried  to 
dissuade  him  from  so  perilous  an  enterprise.  The  sequel 
shows  with  what  result. 

Six  days  later,  June  26th,  his  presence  in  Budweis  was 
necessary,  and  at  his  friend  Schmid's  notification  he  im- 
mediately set  out.  Before  doing  so,  however,  he  sum- 
moned up  courage  to  inform  his  father  of  the  object  he 
had  in  view.  His  journal  records  briefly  this  victory 
over  self,  and  then  goes  on  to  mention  the  business  that 
had  called  him  to  Budweis: 

"July  26th,"  he  writes,  "  before  setting  out  for  Budweis, 
I  made  known  to  my  father  the  project  I  have  in  view. 
I  could  see  that  his  distress  was  intense,  though  he  tried 
to  conceal  it  by  a  smile.  The  morning  after  my  arrival 
in  Budweis,  I  went  to  confession  and  communion,  in 
honor  of  St.  Anne,  in  the  parish  church.  I  was  by  turns 
depressed  and  joyous.  My  anguish  of  heart  is  unspeak- 
able, and  yet  I  feel  relieved,  for  I  think  Jesus  has  heard 
my  prayer.  He  has  laid  the  sorrow  of  my  family  on  my 
shoulders.  With  Schmid  I  visited  the  Right  Reverend 
Bishop,  the  Canons,  and  Professors  Leo  and  Kosel.  We 
are  anxious  to  win  them  over  to  look  favorably  on  our 
enterprise." 

Whilst  Neumann's  desire  for  the  missionary  life  took 
new  increase  day  by  day,  and  whilst  hourly  awaiting  the 
happy  conclusion  of  preliminary  negotiations,  he  re- 
ceived from  his  friend  a  letter  containing  the  vexatious 
intelligence  that  further  delay  was  in  store  for  them. 
It  stated  that  the  St.  Leopold  Society  had  refused  to 
advance  the  necessary  funds,  alleging  that  not  the  two 
young  seminarians,  but  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  of 
Philadelphia,  for  whose  diocese  they  were  bound,  should 


Preparations  for  Departure  to  America.     99 

present  a  formal  petition  to  that  effect;  besides  this,  the 
episcopal  consistory  had  refused  to  sanction  their  depart- 
ure until  they  could  present  their  parents'  permission  in 
writing;  and,  lastly,  passports  were  withheld  on  account 
of  some  want  of  formality  in  the  application  for  them. 

This  was  bad  news  for  the  already  sorely-tried  student; 
but  by  recourse  to  prayer,  his  never-failing  remedy  in 
affliction,  peace  and  courage  were  restored.  Next  day 
he  went  for  the  second  time  to  Budweis.  On  this  jour- 
ney he  took  with  him  his  father's  written  consent  to  his 
leaving  home.  "Early  in  the  morning,  just  before  set- 
ting out,  I  asked  my  dear  father  for  his  consent  in  writ- 
ing. He  gave  it  unhesitatingly,  though  the  effort  cost 
him  visible  emotion.  I  thank  Thee,  my  most  merciful 
Jesus!  We  started  together,  my  father  and  I,  for  he  was 
going  as  far  as  Schwarzbach,  where  he  had  some  busi- 
ness. On  the  way  I  laid  before  him  all  my  plans.  From 
Schwarzbach  I  went  on  to  Krumau.  Beyond  Gojau,  I 
prayed  toward  evening  in  the  chapel  of  the  Holy  Virgin, 
for  her  protection  over  our  undertaking.  God  granted 
me  here  special  devotion.  In  Krumau,  Rev.  Father 
Pfeifer  introduced  me  to  the  Right  Reverend  Prelate. 
Such  scenes  humble  me.  I  feel  embarrassed,  and  I  can- 
not conceal  it;  and  yet  I  have  to  put  on  an  air  of  self- 
confidence. 

"  The  Bishop  received  me  most  kindly,  and  told  me  that 
a  priest  of  his  diocese  would  accompany  us  as  soon  as 
certain  obstacles  would  be  removed.  Arrived,  at  length, 
at  Budweis,  I  went  in  quest  of  Rev.  Father  Dichtl.  I 
found  that  Krbecek  had  gone  to  Gmiinden,  and  Schmid 
had  not  yet  arrived;  so  I  was  forced  to  go  alone  to  the 
Right  Reverend  Bishop.  I  presented  him  the  document 
containing  my  father's  consent,  authenticated  by  the 
city  Dean.  His  reception  was  exceedingly  cordial  and 
condescending.  I  returned  to  Prachatitz  the  same  day, 
though  the  heat  was  oppressive  and  violent  thunder- 
storms succeeding  one  another  in  rapid  succession." 


ioo  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Drenched  with  rain  and  worn  out  by  fatigue,  Neumann 
reached  home  toward  midnight.  He  found,  of  course, 
the  house  closed  and  the  family  retired.  Unwilling  to 
disturb  any  one  at  that  late  hour,  he  made  his  entrance 
through  a  kitchen-window  which,  fortunately  for  him, 
happened  to  be  open.  Great  was  the  astonishment  next 
morning  when  he  issued  from  his  room,  and  in  answer 
to  the  questions  as  to  what  kind  of  supper  he  had  had 
the  previous  evening,  he  replied  with  a  smile,  "  Oh,  a 
piece  of  bread  is  enough  for  me  !" 

Whilst  efforts  were  being  made  to  facilitate  his  depart- 
ure, and  his  friends  were  endeavoring  to  raise  the  re- 
quisite funds  among  the  priests  of  the  diocese,  Neumann 
was  employing  his  time,  as  we  have  seen,  in  furthering 
the  interests  of  his  soul.  We  know  from  his  journal  that 
he  paid  frequent  visits  to  the  various  places  of  pilgrim- 
age in  the  neighborhood,  at  whose  shrines  he  received 
many  graces.  Uniting  mortification  to  prayer,  he  ap- 
plied himself  to  the  acquisition  of  the  virtues  most 
pleasing  to  God.  These  pilgrimages  were  always  ac- 
companied by  the  reception  of  the  Sacraments  of  Penance 
and  Holy  Communion,  for  which  he  prepared  with  laud- 
able fervor  and  devotion.  During  a  considerable  time 
he  confessed  daily,  for  his  tender  conscience,  or  rather 
his  love  for  God,  gave  him  no  rest  until  he  had  removed 
every  obstacle  to  the  divine  intercourse.  His  heart 
yearned  for  the  closest  possible  union  with  his  only  and 
dearly  Beloved.  These  pious  journeys  were  made  alone 
and  on  foot;  consequently  we  are  in  ignorance  of  many 
particulars  which  might  redound  to  his  praise.  On  one 
occasion,  however,  he  was  accompanied  by  a  fellow- 
student,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  little  we  do 
know  of  the  piety  and  zeal  with  which  he  performed 
these  exercises.  The  following  is  from  the  pen  of  this 
student,  now  the  Rev.  Father  K : 

"  In  the  middle  of  September,  1835, 1  visited  Neumann. 
Next  morning  he  received  Holy  Communion,  and  we 


Preparations  for  Departure  to  America.    101 

started  for  Strakonitz,  a  pilgrimage  dedicated  to  '  Our 
Lady  of  Victory.'  We  both  went  to  confession  and 
Holy  Communion  next  morning  at  Podsrp,  in  the 
church  of  the  Seven  Dolors.  It  was  then  almost  noon. 
After  partaking  of  some  refreshment  at  the  inn,  we  re- 
turned home.  It  was  a  very  warm  day,  and  I  was  bathed 
in  perspiration.  I  took  off  my  coat,  but  Neumann  with 
a  smile  only  buttoned  his  more  closely.  The  sun  was 
darting  his  fierce  rays  down  on  my  head,  which  I  did  my 
best  to  protect,  whilst  Neumann  walked  on  coolly,  hat 
in  hand,  leading  in  the  recitation  of  the  Rosary.  In  this 
way  we  reached  Skocic,  where  stands  a  shrine  of  'Our 
Lady  of  Help.'  We  asked  the  pastor  for  the  church- 
keys,  but  he  declined  trusting  us  with  them;  and  so  we 
were  obliged  to  adore  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  out- 
side the  door.  Then  we  recited  together  the  Profession 
of  Faith  of  the  Council  of  Trent,  and  turned  our  steps 
homeward.  It  was  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening 
when  we  reached  my  parents'  house,  where  a  good  sup- 
per was  soon  set  before  us.  Neumann  smiled,  but  would 
not  touch  anything.  His  conduct  puzzled  me,  and  I 
exclaimed  somewhat  impatiently,  'Why  do  you  act  so  ? 
You  are  always  tantalizing  me.  Sit  down  and  eat ! '  'I 
must  go,' he  replied.  'Where  are  you  going  ?'  I  asked. 
'Don't  you  see  that  it  is  already  late?'  He  sat  down, 
and  I  began  to  help  myself,  for  I  was  hungry  after  our 
day's  journey.  But  in  a  few  moments  up  he  sprang, 
saying  in  a  cheery  tone,  '  I  can  easily  find  my  way  as 
far  as  Prachatitz,'  and  seizing  his  hat,  he  was  off.  I  ran 
after  him  and  insisted  on  accompanying  him.  He  per- 
mitted it  for  a  short  distance,  and  then  urged  me  to 
return.  It  so  happened  that,  in  spite  of  his  confidence, 
he  lost  his  way,  and  reached  home  only  on  the  following 
morning.  'God  punished  me,'  he  remarked  some  days 
after.  '  I  should  have  passed  the  night  with  you.' 
From  his  conversation  that  day  I  discovered  his  knowl- 
edge of  the  interior  life.  Among  other  things,  he  made 


IO2  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

clear  to  me  the  words  apex  mentis,  and  explained  the  way 
in  which  the  soul  acts." 

The  pilgrimage  referred  to  in  the  above  account  is 
thus  briefly  noticed  by  Neumann:  "  On  the  same  day 

I  went  with  good  K on  a  pilgrimage  to  Podsrp  and 

Strakonitz.  Next  morning  I  went  to  confession  and 
Holy  Communion  again,  and  peace  was  restored  to  my 
soul.  To  thee,  O  my  Mother,  Our  Lady  of  Podsrp  and 
Skocic,  I  owe  much  !  I  love  thee  with  my  whole  heart." 

The  poor  souls  in  purgatory  claimed  alike  his  sym- 
pathy and  prayers.  He  often  visited  the  cemetery  out- 
side the  city  and  St.  Peter's  Church  adjoining.  One 

evening  the  "  good  K "  accompanied  him  thither,  and 

thus  alludes  to  the  visit:  "One  evening  in  autumn  we 
went  out  to  St.  Peter's,  where  we  prayed  till  eleven 
o'clock.  As  we  were  returning,  Neumann,  pointing  to 
the  cross  in  the  starry  sky,  said,  '  As  often  as  you  see 
that  cross,  think  of  me,  as  I  will  of  you.'  " 

The  last  day  of  September  was  devoted  to  a  pilgrim- 
age to  Our  Lady's  shrines  at  Klattau  and  Nepomucene, 
the  latter  the  birthplace  of  Neumann's  patron.  His  ac- 
count of  this  visit  is  highly  edifying. 

"I  was  greatly  distracted,"  he  writes.  "On  the  23d 
of  September  I  made  a  sincere  confession  at  the  Capu- 
chins in  Schuttenhofen.  But  I  went  to  Communion 
with  a  scruple  which  assailed  me  shortly  before  receiv- 
ing. This  disturbed  my  devotion.  Perhaps  it  was  a 
punishment  imposed  as  a  penance.  At  Klattau,  where 
I  arrived  on  the  24th,  at  half-past  seven  in  the  morning, 
I  prayed  earnestly  in  both  the  churches,  though  without 
any  sentiment  of  devotion.  No  opportunity  for  confes- 
sion presented  itself.  I  was  greatly  disappointed,  for  I 
would  gladly  have  rid  myself  of  my  doubt.  I  had, 
moreover,  to  abstain  from  Holy  Communion,  a  most 
painful  privation.  With  a  sad  heart,  though  not  with- 
out a  certain  mixture  of  consolation,  I  went  to  Nepomu- 
cene, where  God  was  waiting  to  visit  me  in  a  special 


Preparations  for  Departure  to  America.    103 

manner.  I  think  that,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  of 
my  general  confession,  I  never  entered  the  confessional 
with  greater  fervor  or  a  more  upright  intention  than  I 
did  here.  This  was  Thy  work,  O  Jesus  !  Thou  didst 
hear  the  prayers  of  my  holy  patron.  The  kind  recep- 
tion given  me  by  the  deans  was  quite  in  contrast  with 
that  of  the  curates,  though  indeed  that  of  the  latter 
was  well  merited.  I  love  those  curates,  however,  and 
from  this  day  forward  I  will  look  upon  every  priest, 
without  exception,  as  the  representative  of  God.  I 
reached  home  on  the  26th,  richly  rewarded  for  the  bodily 
fatigue  and  mental  suffering  I  had  endured.  Now,  O 
my  God,  I  belong  entirely  to  Thee!" 

Another  of  these  pious  pilgrimages  led  him  through 
Chrobold,  where  Rev.  Anthony  Dichtl,  brother  of  the 
aforementioned  Rev.  Herman  Dichtl,  was  pastor.  He 
invited  young  Neumann  to  preach  on  the  Feast  of  the 
Nativity  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  The  invitation  was 
cheerfully  accepted.  The  devout  son  of  Mary  rejoiced 
in  an  opportunity  to  publish  the  praises  of  his  good 
Mother,  the  fair  Queen  of  Heaven.  To  his  act  of  con- 
trition that  day  he  added  these  words:  "O  Mother  of 
my  God,  how  can  one  as  unworthy  as  I  announce  thy 
praises  ?  O  pray  for  me,  a  poor  sinner !" 

On  the  eve  of  the  feast  he  says:  "To-morrow  I  shall 
preach  at  Chrobold  my  first  sermon  in  honor  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mary.  No  doubt  curiosity  will  attract 
many.  Thy  will  be  done,  O  Jesus!  If  success  will  not 
elate  me,  help  me  worthily  to  announce  the  praises  of 
Thy  Mother!  But  if  failure  be  more  conducive  to  my 
spiritual  advancement,  may  Thy  holy  will  be  done! 
Withdraw  Thy  hand  but  for  one  moment,  and  I  shall  be 
covered  with  shame  and  confusion.  O  Jesus,  I  am 
Thine!"  The  result  of  the  sermon  we  may  gather  from 
his  notes:  "  My  sermon  was  not  so  successful  as  I  had 
hoped  it  would  be,  but  I  bore  my  failure  with  passable 
resignation." 


IO4  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

We  cannot  peruse  his  journal  of  this  time,  nor,  indeed, 
of  any  other  period  of  his  holy  career,  without  being 
edified  by  the  constant  manifestation  of  his  one  great 
desire,  viz.,  to  seek  and  adore  in  all  things  the  honor  of 
God  and  the  accomplishment  of  His  most  holy  will. 
We  find  also  in  that  faithful  record  of  his  inmost  thoughts 
numerous  occasions  to  admire  his  ever-active  and  disin- 
terested charity  toward  his  neighbor.  On  one  of  his 
journeys  to  Budweis  he  met  a  well-known  free-thinker. 
Neumann  lost  no  time,  but,  engaging  him  in  conver- 
sation, satisfactorily  defended  the  truths  of  religion. 
That  evening  we  find  him  thanking  God  for  throwing 
such  an  opportunity  in  his  way,  and  begging  a  blessing 
on  his  efforts  for  the  spiritual  good  of  the  deluded  man. 

A  certain  Mr.  F with  whom  he  had  lately  become 

acquainted  calls  forth  the  following  remarks:  "He  is  a 
very  pious  man.  Thy  Church,  O  mj  Jesus,  has  some 
faithful  sons  after  all !" 

A  visit  from  one  of  his  fellow-students  is  noticed  in 
these  words:  "Would  that  I  were  able  to  contribute 
something  toward  his  perfection!  He  suffers  greatly. 
But  I  am  presumptuous  in  my  wish.  I  am  far  more  im- 
perfect, more  sinful  than  he."  Of  another  he  says:  "It 
is  my  opinion  that  he  carries  his  mysticism  too  far. 
May  God  grant  us  His  grace!" 

Neumann  often  accompanied  his  friend  to  the  hospital 
in  charge  of  the  Gray  Nuns.  The  sight  of  the  care  be- 
stowed upon  the  poor  sick  by  the  good  Sisters  and  their 
postulants  charmed  him.  His  admiration  of  their  work, 
so  pleasing  to  God,  finds  expression  in  the  following 
lines:  "Oh,  how  great  must  be  the  fire  of  divine  love 
enkindled  by  the  spirit  of  God  in  the  hearts  of  these 
spouses  of  heaven!  I  long  to  become  as  perfect  as  they. 
Oh,  how  charming  their  heavenly  sentiments,  their  resig- 
nation, their  holy  joy,  their  maternal  care!  How  consol- 
ing the  patience  and  cheerfulness  of  the  sick!  O  God, 
Thou  hast  poured  into  my  arid,  sinful  heart  a  fulness  of 


Preparations  for  Departure  to  America.    105 

grace  for  which  I  cannot  even  in  thought  stammer  my 
thanks!" 

Neumann  knew  how  to  defend  God's  honor  on  proper 
occasions;  and  his  words,  brief  and  to  the  purpose, 
rarely  gave  offence.  When  his  missionary  project  to 
America  was  rumored  abroad,  many  were  the  represen- 
tations and  entreaties  of  friends  and  acquaintances  to 
dissuade  him  from  it.  His  only  reply  was,  "If  God 
gives  me  the  grace,  I  shall  remain  faithful  to  my  resolu- 
tion." 

One  friend  in  particular  was  untiring  in  his  importu- 
nities. Among  other  arguments,  he  alleged  that  the 
sciences  which  Neumann  had  acquired  with  so  much 
labor  and  application  would  be  useless  to  him  in  Amer- 
ica. To  this  Neumann  replied  by  the  question,  "  Why 
do  you  ship  your  goods  to  foreign  markets  ?"  *  Because," 
answered  his  friend,  "  in  foreign  markets  they  command 
higher  prices."  "  For  the  same  reason  I  intend  to  go  to 
America,"  returned  Neumann,  thus  putting  an  end  to 
further  remonstrance. 

One  clear,  cold  December  morning,  about  half-past 
four  o'clock,  the  stillness  of  Prachatitz  was  broken  by 
the  sharp  clanging  of  the  fire-alarm.  Neumann  sprang 
from  his  bed,  threw  open  his  window,  and  saw  flames  ris- 
ing from  a  neighboring  village  only  a  few  miles  distant. 
Dressing  hurriedly,  he  hastened  to  his  father's  room. 
"Pfefferschlagisonfire!"  he  cried.  "I'm  off!"  And  soon 
he  was  on  the  scene  of  action.  One  house  was  already 
enveloped  in  flames,  whilst  the  frightened  villagers  stood 
in  a  crowd  uncertain  what  to  do.  The  danger  was  immi- 
nent as  the  houses  were  all  of  wood  and  close  together. 
"A  ladder!"  cried  Neumann.  "Form  two  lines  and  pass 
up  buckets;"  and  up  he  darted,  followed  by  several  others. 
Water  was  passed  from  hand  to  hand,  by  which  the 
flames  were  kept  under  until  assistance  arrived  from 
Prachatitz.  With  God's  help  the  fire  was  soon  extin- 
guished and  the  homes  of  the  poor  villagers  saved. 


io6  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

This  village  belonged  to  the  sovereignty  of  Prince 
Schwarzenberg,  who,  some  days  later,  forwarded  to  Neu- 
mann a  commendatory  letter  of  thanks,  inviting  him  to 
apply  confidently  for  any  favor  he  desired.  Neumann 
quietly  slipped  the  letter  into  his  pocket  without  even 
breaking  the  seal.  His  mother,  however,  with  true  femi- 
nine curiosity,  questioned  him  on  its  contents.  Then 
only  did  he  draw  it  forth,  break  the  seal,  and  read. 
"Very  probably  I  shall  never  make  use  of  this,"  he  re- 
marked, as  he  folded  it  and  returned  it  to  his  pocket. 

In  his  violent  efforts  to  extinguish  the  flames  he  re- 
ceived a  severe  wound  in  the  hand.  The  cold  weather 
aggravated  its  grievousness  to  such  a  degree  that  when, 
two  months  later,  he  set  out  for  America  it  was  not  yet 
healed.  The  villagers  of  Pfefferschlag  often  inquired 
after  him,  expressing  their  desire  to  have  him  for  pastor. 
When  they  were  informed  quite  recently  that  his  biogra- 
phy was  being  compiled  for  publication,  they  insisted 
that  the  above-mentioned  fact  should  not  be  forgotten. 
They  forwarded  a  statement  of  it,  signed  and  sealed  by 
their  chief  men,  with  the  request  that  it  should  be 
inserted  in  the  said  biography.  The  account  contained 
in  this  document  informs  us  that  Neumann  worked  so 
hard  that  not  a  single  garment  on  him  remained  dry. 
His  coat  was  encased  in  icicles.  He  continued  his  ex- 
ertions until  he  sank  from  sheer  exhaustion,  in  which 
state  he  was  taken  to  a  house  near  by  and  provided  with 
dry  clothing  and  refreshment.  A  few  modest  words  in 
his  journal  record  this  event:  "On  December  i3th  a 
fire  broke  out  in  Pfefferschlag.  I  helped  to  put  it  out. 
To  Thee,  O  my  God,  our  first  thanks  are  due!  By  calm- 
ing the  winds  Thou  didst  check  the  fire  and  save  Thy 
poor  people  from  misery!" 

John  Neumann  was  silent  with  regard  to  whatever 
might  redound  to  his  own  honor;  consequently  we  find 
him  merely  touching  upon  those  extraordinary  favors 
with  which  God  at  times  rewarded  his  fervent  prayers 


Preparations  for  Departitre  to  America.   107 

and  mortifications.  His  tender  conscience  gave  him  no 
rest  until  again  and  again  he  had  confessed  his  faults 
and  imperfections.  He  loved  God  truly,  he  loved  Him 
above  all  things,  and  his  only  dread  was  to  offend  his- 
only  Love.  Notwithstanding  the  violence  he  was  forced 
to  offer  his  pride  and  self-love,  he  confessed  every  week, 
and  sometimes  even  more  frequently.  One  day  he  writes 
of  himself  as  follows: 

"  I  wanted,  in  honor  of  the  Most  Blessed  Virgin,  to  go 
to  confession  to  the  Piarist  Fathers  (Budweis),  but  I  was 
disappointed.  I  could  not  make  up  my  mind  as  to  the 
choice  of  a  confessor.  I  was  not  resigned  to  the  will  of 
God.  It  was  only  on  the  next  day  that  the  Blessed  Vir- 
gin granted  my  wish.  Through  her  gracious  interces- 
sion I  resolved  to  confess  to  that  priest  whom  I  should 
happen  to  meet  first.  It  turned  out  to  be  the  prefect  of 
the  gymnasium.  Then  I  received  Holy  Communion  in 
the  parish  church.  Heavenly  peace,  resignation,  and 
joy  were  restored  to  my  desolate  soul.  Ah,  how  I  long 
to  meditate  on  the  immense  sufferings  of  my  dearest 
Jesus  !" 

We  are  astonished  on  beholding  young  Neumann's 
diligent  employment  of  those  hours  of  vacation,  his  assi- 
duity in  caring  for  his  spiritual  welfare,  whilst  his  friends 
in  Budweis  pushed  on  preparations  for  his  projected 
journey.  And  yet  he  regarded  himself  as  an  indolent 
servant  in  his  Divine  Master's  vineyard.  "Yesterday," 
he  writes,  "  I  resolved  most  earnestly  to  lead  a  strict  and 
retired  life.  Both  to-day  and  yesterday,  O  my  Jesus,  I 
have  had  to  ask  Thy  pardon  several  times;  yet,  so  far, 
Thou  hast  not  answered  me  as  Thou  art  wont  to  do  !" 

On  November  ist  he  laid  down  for  himself  a  rule  of 
life  in  which  the  hours  from  four  in  the  morning  till 
eleven  at  night  were  to  be  conscientiously  divided  be- 
tween prayer  and  study.  So  high  was  Neumann's  appre- 
ciation of  the  sanctity  of  God  that,  notwithstanding  his 
rare  gift  of  tears,  his  mortified  life,  and  his  regular  recep- 


io8  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

tion  of  the  Sacraments,  he  never  thought  his  penance 
adequate  to  his  sins.  He  exclaims  in  his  journal,  "  Ah, 
woe  is  me  !  Of  what  avail  are  my  tears,  O  God,  when  I 
offend  Thee  by  my  deeds  ?  Oh,  that  these  tears  might 
lessen  my  pain  and  wash  out  my  sins  !  O  Jesus,  behold 
me  here  by  Thy  cross  !  Hear  my  prayer  !  Alas,  I  have 
so  basely  crucified  Thee  !  Forgive  me  !  O  Cross,  I  trem- 
ble before  Thee  !  Far  rather  would  I  kneel  at  Thy  crib, 

0  Divine  Child,  were  I  less  sinful!     I  offer  Thee  only 
desires,  no  works;  therefore  how  can  I  hope  for  pardon  ? 
On  Thy  heart  my  hot  tears  have  fallen;  do  Thou  soften 
my  hard  heart,  dear  Infant  Jesus  !     Oh,  that  I  had  never 
come  into  this  world,  since  I  am  in  it  only  to  give  Thee 
pain  !     O  Divine  Child,  did  I  know  that  my  tears  would 
reconcile  me  to  Thee,  they  should  flow  till  sight  would 
fail!     But  what  are  tears  without  works?" 

About  the  middle  of  December  a  letter  from  his  friend 
Schmid  bore  him  the  welcome  intelligence  that  the  long- 
expected  passports  had  been  received  by  the  episcopal 
consistory,  and  that  a  collection  was  being  taken  up 
among  the  priests  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  journey. 
Rejoicing  at  the  happy  progress  of  his  affairs,  Neumann, 
as  usual,  confided  his  emotions  of  joy  and  gratitude  to 
the  pages  of  his  faithful  journal: 

"  My  God,  pardon  me  for  not  thanking  Thee  with  all 
my  heart  as  I  should!  My  will  is  bound  up  with  Thine; 

1  desire  only  what  Thou  dost  desire  !     Oh,  what  pain  this 
leave-taking  will  cause  my  poor  heart !     My  grief  bor- 
ders on  despair;  it  draws  from  me  these  supplications. 
O  Jesus,  upon  me,  the  wretched  malefactor,  let  the  whole 
weight  of  this  bitter  trial  fall!     Brand  me,  Thy  penitent, 
with  Thine  own  hand,   but  soothe   my  parents'  grief  ! 
With  the  assistance  of  Thy  grace  I  will  be  able  to  en- 
dure the  blows  of  Thy  merciful  justice,  for  they  come 
from  Thee,  most  amiable  Jesus,  my  Love,  my  Treasure, 
my  All!     Have  mercy  on  me  !" 

At  last  the  final  preparations  were  made,  the  moment 


Preparations  for  Departure  to  America.    109 

for  departure  was  at  hand,  and  the  struggle  going  on  in 
the  breast  of  our  noble  young  student  may  best  be  de- 
picted in  his  own  words:  "I  tremble  at  the  thought  of 
parting  from  my  parents,  my  brother,  my  sisters  !  My 
heart  is  torn  with  anguish!  O  Jesus,  Thou  who  hast  in- 
spired the  resolution,  grant  me  strength  to  fulfil  it !  All 
things  urge  upon  me  the  necessity  of  doing  so.  Oh,  what 
sacrifices  have  to  be  made  in  Thy  service  !  The  Broth- 
ers of  Mercy  must  constantly  sacrifice  many  things  in 
order  to  follow  out  their  vocation  in  the  care  of  the  sick 
— and  //  what  am  I  doing  here  ?  Cannot  I,  too,  resolve 
to  do  something  for  God  ?  O  my  Jesus,  give  me 
strength!" 

And  yet,  it  must  be  allowed,  the  result  of  this  long 
preparation,  this  waiting  and  hoping  for  six  weary 
months,  was  far  from  satisfactory.  Only  after  repeated 
petitions  and  negotiations  was  a  passport  granted  which 
was  to  hold  good  for  three  years;  Neumann's  undertak- 
ing was  approved  neither  by  the  Bishop  nor  his  chap- 
ter; and  the  St.  Leopold  Society  absolutely  refused  to 
supply  funds  for  the  journey.  Through  Rev.  Father 
Dichtl's  efforts,  however,  a  sum  was  raised  among  the 
priests  of  the  diocese,  but  it  was  scarcely  sufficient  to  de- 
fray the  expenses  of  one  individual.  It  was  decided, 
therefore,  that  Neumann  should  set  out  alone,  and  that 
his  friend  should  follow  as  soon  as  practicable.  The 
director  of  the  seminary  had  promised  to  every  mis- 
sioner  going  to  America  the  sum  of  four  or  five  hundred 
francs  to  supply  any  deficit  in  travelling  expenses.  Avail- 
ing himself  of  this  kind  offer,  Neumann  saw  at  last  the 
obstacles  to  his  long-cherished  desires  removed.  We 
shall,  however,  see,  as  we  follow  him  step  by  step  in  his 
career  of  self-sacrifice,  that  the  removal  of  present  obsta- 
cles did  not  mean  immunity  from  those  of  the  future. 


no  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
Departure  from  Home. 

ON  February  8,  1836,  John  Neumann  bade  farewell 
to  Prachatitz,  his  native  place,  though  not  to  his 
parents  and  family.  Mr.  Neumann,  in  giving  his  con- 
sent to  his  son's  leaving  home,  had  made  use  of  these 
words:  "  If  you  believe  yourself  called  by  God,  we  shall 
put  no  obstacle  in  your  way,  but  you  must  not  take  leave 
of  us."  The  father  was  visibly  affected  at  the  thought  of 
losing  this  first-born  son, who  had  never  before  caused  him 
a  moment's  pain.  As  the  young  student  frequently  ab- 
sented himself  from  home,  either  to  go  to  Budweis  or  to 
make  a  pilgrimage  to  some  hallowed  shrine,  his  doing  so 
at  this  particular  time  called  forth  no  special  comment 
from  any  member  of  the  family.  Merely  signifying  his 
intention  of  going  to  Budweis,  he  set  out  with  the  pain 
at  his  heart  all  the  more  poignant  from  his  efforts  to  con- 
ceal it  under  an  appearance  of  indifference.  His  fare- 
well letter  to  his  beloved  parents,  dated  from  Budweis, 
February  nth,  affords  some  intimation  of  the  feelings 
which  prompted  it: 

"  MV  VERY  DEAR  PARENTS: 

"  By  my  sudden  and  unexpected  departure  I  designed 
to  lessen  our  mutual  pain  of  separation,  as  much  on  your 
account  as  on  my  own.  Convinced  that  your  parental 
blessing  will  follow  me  wherever  I  go,  I  forebore  for  the 
reason  stated  to  ask  it  before  leaving  you.  I  feel  assured, 
also,  that  the  thanks  I  owe  you  for  so  many  and  so  great 
benefits,  and  which  I  now  express  in  writing,  you  will 
accept  as  if  tendered  by  word  of  mouth.  I  am  persuaded 


Departure  from  Home.  1 1 1 

that  the  career  in  which  I  am  about  to  embark,  and 
which,  with  God's  blessing,  I  shall  faithfully  pursue,  will 
be  conducive  to  your  spiritual  good  also. 

"  You  have,  my  dear  parents,  the  right  to  lay  claim  to 
whatever  return  my  affection  could  possibly  make  you, 
and,  God  knows,  I  would  have  done  my  duty  in  this 
matter  !  But  the  unalterable  resolution  cherished  for 
three  years,  in  spite  of  so  many  hindrances,  and  which 
was  so  near  being  fulfilled;  the  ease  with  which  I  ac- 
quired the  knowledge  necessary  for  my  future  career, 
with  many  other  circumstances,  combine  to  assure  me 
/that  it  is  God  who  calls  upon  me  for  this  sacrifice, 
however  painful,  in  behalf  of  the  ignorant  and  aban- 
doned. These  considerations,  added  to  the  conviction 
that  my  sacrifice  will  be  beneficial  not  only  to  my  own 
soul  but  to  yours  likewise,  determines  me  not  to  relin- 
quish the  end  in  view.  My  dear  parents,  may  you  bear 
patiently  and  resignedly  this  trial  imposed  upon  us  by 
God  !  The  greater  our  sorrows  now,  the  greater  our 
joys  hereafter.  God  would  not  demand  such  a  sacrifice, 
did  He  not  deem  it  salutary  to  us  and  were  He  not 
willing  to  impart  the  necessary  strength.  May  His 
holy  will  be  done  ! 

"  I  thank  you  for  all  you  have  sent  me.  You  have  fur- 
nished me  too  abundantly;  less  would  have  been  suffi- 
cient. In  a  few  days  I  shall  set  out  by  way  of  Linz.  To- 
morrow I  call  on  the  Bishop. 

"  I  embrace  you  with  all  my  heart,  and  beg  you  to 
present  my  regards  to  the  Reverend  Dean  and  the  other 
priests  of  my  acquaintance.  My  heart-felt  thanks  to  the 
charitable  ladies  of  Prachatitz  for  all  their  very  accept- 
able gifts.  From  Nancy  I  will  write  soon  again. 

"Begging  your  prayers,  I  remain  your  devoted  and 
grateful  son,  JOHN  N.  NEUMANN. 

"  BUDWEIS,  February  n,  1836." 

His  separation  from  home  and  friends  was  a  bitter 
pang  to  Neumann's  sensitive  heart,  one  too  keen  for  en- 


U2  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

durance,  perhaps,  had  not  his  intense  love  for  God  come 
in  to  rectify  natural  feeling.  He  thinks  only  of  his 
Jesus;  he  sighs  only  for  union  with  Him.  "Ah,  Lord 
Jesus,"  he  cries,  "Thou  must  tear  my  heart  from  this 
world  that  it  may  be  healed  !  O  Jesus,  be  my  Saviour !" 

On  February  i8th  he  left  Budweis,  though  not  till  he 
had  implored  a  blessing  from  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop. 
The  favor  was  indeed  accorded,  although  his  lordship 
plainly  intimated  dissatisfaction  at  his  going  abroad. 
Distressing  doubts  and  disappointments  awaited  him; 
but  trust  in  God's  providence  buoyed  him  up  to  bear 
them  manfully. 

"  The  thought  of  the  journey  before  me,"  he  says, 
"  banished  every  other  care.  I  became  almost  insensible 
to  other  considerations." 

The  road  to  Linz  led  through  the  Bohemian  forest, 
and  snow  lay  on  the  ground  to  the  depth  of  from  four- 
teen to  fifteen  feet.  His  friend  Schmid  accompanied 
him  a  considerable  distance.  The  journal  informs  us: 

"At  Einsiedeln  my  dear  Schmid  and  I  parted.  But 
few  words  had  been  interchanged  by  us  in  the  stage- 
coach, for  we  had  little  to  communicate.  The  thought 
that  now  I  have  so  many  for  whom  I  must  pray  weighs 
upon  me.  My  unworthy  prayers  can  do  my  benefactors 
little  good,  and  still  I  yearn  to  show  my  gratitude." 

On  arriving  at  Linz,  Neumann's  first  care  was  to  visit 
his  Lord  in  the  tabernacle  of  some  church,  and  there  to 
pour  out  his  heart  in  praise  and  prayer.  Thence  he  re- 
paired to  the  seminary,  where  a  cordial  reception  was 
tendered  him  by  the  rector,  Rev.  Father  Stolzenthaler. 
Next  day  he  was  introduced  to  Bishop  Ziegler,  who  hon- 
ored the  young  missionary  with  an  entertainment  and  a 
Latin  address.  Neumann  thus  records  these  items: 

"  Yesterday  I  prayed,  with  many  tears,  in  the  beautiful 
parish  church.  My  heart  grew  strong,  and  my  resolution 
of  last  week  revived.  Then  I  went  to  the  seminary, 
where  I  was  received  by  the  rector  with  the  greatest 


Departure  from  Home.  113 

courtesy.  This  roused  my  courage.  To-day  I  called  on 
the  Bishop.  What  an  apostolic  man!  'Have  you  not 
the  Holy  Ghost  to  enlighten  and  teach  you  ? '  he  said  to 
me  with  fatherly  kindness.  O  God,  how  holy  and 
mighty  art  Thou  !" 

On  the  morning  of  February  2oth  he  arrived  at  Mu- 
nich. Under  this  date  we  find  the  following  expressions 
of  gratitude,  the  outpourings  of  his  noble  heart: 

"  The  rector,  the  spiritual  director,  and  the  sub-rector 
of  the  seminary  at  Linz  provided  for  me  in  a  truly  pa- 
ternal manner.  May  God  reward  them  !  The  Bishop 
was  extremely  kind,  and  told  me  to  write  to  him  at  once 
should  I  be  in  any  need.  He  assured  me  of  his  readi- 
ness to  come  to  my  assistance.  May  God  reward  him 
for  his  charity  !" 

Young  Neumann's  next  visit  was  to  his  cousin  Janson, 
who  resided  in  Munich,  after  which  he  attended  to  some 
business  for  his  friends  of  Budvveis  and  Linz.  While 
thus  engaged  he  met  Rev.  Father  Henni,  a  missionary 
from  the  diocese  of  Cincinnati,  later  Archbishop  of  Mil- 
waukee. Through  this  reverend  gentleman  Neumann 
learned  that  German  priests  were  indeed  badly  needed 
in  some  parts  of  the  United  States,  though  not  in  Phila- 
delphia just  at  that  moment;  that  Bishop  Kenrick  had 

revoked  the  order  given  to  Dr.  N ,  director  of  the 

seminary,  but  that  admission  might,  perhaps,  be  secured 
to  the  diocese  of  New  York,  Detroit,  or  Vincennes.  Right 
Rev.  Bishop  Brut6,  of  Vincennes,  he  further  stated,  was 
then  in  Rome,  but  was  expected  in  Paris  at  Easter. 
There  he  might  meet  him,  confer  with  him  upon  the 
subject  nearest  his  heart,  and  perhaps  cross  the  ocean  in 
his  company.  Father  Henni,  moreover,  strongly  advised 
the  young  student  not  to  start  for  America  without  a 
permit  from  his  BisTiop.  These  communications  were 
not  very  encouraging.  They  might,  perhaps,  have 
shaken  the  resolution  of  one  less  dauntless  than  John 
Neumann.  But  in  his  case  they  had  only  the  effect  of 


H4  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

sending  him  to  the  source  of  strength  and  courage — 
resignation  to  the  holy  will  of  God.  His  journal  of  this 
date  runs  as  follows: 

"The  information  just  received  casts  me  down.  Why? 
Will  Canon  N furnish  funds  for  my  travelling  ex- 
penses ?  Will  he  give  me  a  recommendation?  Shall  I 
receive  the  written  discharge  from  my  Bishop  ?  How  shall 
I  be  received  under  the  circumstances  ?  I  am  almost  dis- 
heartened. What  is  worse  than  all  else  is  that  in  these 
trials  I  cannot  encourage  myself  with  the  thought  that 
my  heart  is  pure.  I  know  full  well  that  I  have  naught 
but  sin.  Perhaps  God  has  forsaken  me  on  that  account. 
Prayer  has  grown  irksome;  my  efforts  seem  vain  and 
fruitless.  O  Jesus,  have  mercy  on  me!  Jesus,  living 
God,  make  haste  to  help  me!  The  waters  of  tribulation 
are  rising,  my  feet  find  no  solid  resting-place.  My  God, 
I  am  sinking!  Save  me,  O  Lord;  I  perish!  Say  not, 
'Thou  art  not  deserving  of  pardon.'  Lord,  hadst  Thou 
willed  to  glorify  Thy  justice  in  me,  I  should  have  died 
a  million  deaths!  But  I  implore  Thee  to  show  forth  in 
me  the  greatness  of  Thy  mercy;  forgive  me  my  sins! 
Behold,  my  bodily  strength  is  well-nigh  exhausted  by 
my  journey;  how  will  it  bear  up  against  the  mental  trials 
that  now  assail  me  ?  Jesus,  my  Jesus,  Son  of  David, 
have  mercy  on  me!  My  dear  Mother  Mary,  St.  Joseph, 
my  guardian  angel,  my  holy  patron,  pray  for  me!" 

As  there  was  little  room  for  hope  of  his  being  received 
into  the  diocese  of  Philadelphia,  Professor  Philipps 
offered  to  interest  himself  to  secure  him  admittance  into 
the  diocese  of  Vincennes.  It  was  therefore  decided  that 
Neumann  should  await  in  Strasburg  an  answer  from 
Bishop  Brute.  On  his  journey  thither  he  stayed  two 
days  at  Augsburg,  where  he  received  hospitality  from 
Rev.  Father  Fischert,  of  the  cathedral-chapter,  and  his 
curate,  Dr.  Schmidt.  He  had  a  letter  of  introduction 
from  Dr.  Stadtler  of  Munich  to  Mr.  Charles  Brug,  editor 
of  the  Sion.  Some  of  the  citizens  of  Prachatitz  had, 


Departure  front  Home.  115 

shortly  before,  forwarded  through  this  gentleman  a  pious 
gift  to  Sweden.  This  circumstance,  joined  to  the  letter 
of  introduction,  secured  for  our  traveller  a  most  flattering 
reception,  cordial  beyond  expectation.  On  taking  leave, 
a  number  of  prayer-books  and  religious  works  were  pre- 
sented to  him  for  the  American  mission.  Before  quitting 
Augsburg  he  made  the  following  note  in  his  journal: 

"  I  have  indeed  arrived  thus  far  safe.  But  I  feel  de- 
jected, owing  in  part  to  the  state  of  my  soul,  the  delay 
in  my  journey,  and  the  visits  I  have  been  obliged  to  pay. 
O  my  Jesus,  truly  present  in  Thy  Blessed  and  Most  Won- 
derful Sacrament,  help  me!  He  will !" 

At  last,  February  2yth,  he  reached  Strasburg,  and 
with  his  letters  of  introduction  repaired  to  the  seminary. 
Here  he  was  most  graciously  received,  although  disap- 
pointments seemed  to  await  him  at  every  turn;  one  dis- 
appeared only  to  give  place  to  another.  Philadelphia, 
he  was  again  informed,  needed  no  German  priests,  and 
the  funds  promised  him  had  been  given  to  other  mission- 
aries from  Alsace  and  Lorraine.  Dr.  N consoled  Neu- 
mann by  promising  to  apply  for  his  admission  into  the 
diocese  of  New  York.  He  further  assured  him  that  funds 
would  be  forthcoming  on  his  presenting  a  letter  of  in- 
troduction from  himself  to  a  certain  merchant  in  Paris. 
The  latter,  he  said,  was  a  friend  of  the  missions  and 
would,  without  doubt,  advance  a  considerable  sum  in 
their  interest.  He  advised  him  also,  in  consideration  of 
his  slender  means,  to  set  out  immediately  for  Paris  and 
there  await  an  answer  from  the  Bishop  of  Vincennes. 
These  incidents  gave  rise  to  the  following  notes  in  our 
young  student's  journal: 

"  Perhaps  I  shall  be  received  into  the  diocese  of  New 

York.  No  money  to  be  had  in  this  place.  Dr.  N has 

received  no  letter,  and  I  no  written  discharge  from  my 
Bishop.  Yet  all  this  troubles  me  little.  God  does  not 
afflict  me  with  all  these  evils  at  once,  but  only  one  by  one; 
it  is  a  salutary  school  for  me.  Reasoning  from  the  past,  I 


u6  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

shall,  doubtless,  have  many  more  crosses  to  endure.  I 
rejoice  at  the  thought,  for  thereby  I  shall  be  able  to 
atone  for  my  sins.  Help  me,  O  God!  Be  not  Thou  far 
from  me  when  tribulations  come  upon  me!  I  have  a 
presentiment  of  approaching  sorrow;  my  heart  grows 
restless  and  uneasy.  My  soul  is  dry  and  parched,  as  if 
a  tempest  were  about  to  burst  upon  it.  Thank  God  that 
I  can  raise  my  eyes  to  Him  with  confidence!" 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day,  March  3d,  he 
left  Strasburg  with  a  heavy  heart. 

"  March  3d. — I  will  start  at  four  o'clock  to-day  for 
Nancy.  I  received  no  pecuniary  assistance  here  at  Stras- 
burg, though  I  was  told  I  might  have  better  success  in 
Paris.  Now  I  plunge  into  the  uncertain.  It  seems  to 

me  that  Dr.  N is  not  well  informed  in  this  matter;  the 

truth  is,  it  looks  like  some  underhand  game.  But  no  evil 
can  befall  me,  for  I  am  Thine,  my  Jesus,  and  Thou  art 
mine!  Men  cannot  injure  me,  for  Thou  art  omnipotent! 
Out  of  my  poor  purse  I  have  to  pay  the  freight  of  other 
people's  books.  But  if  they  only  serve  to  glorify  Thy 
name,  dear  Jesus,  I  am  willing  to  hunger  and  to  pay,  for 
I  love  Thee  in  my  poverty  !" 

On  arriving  at  Nancy,  Neumann's  first  care  was  to 
despatch  a  second  letter  to  his  parents,  to  acquaint  them 
of  his  movements  up  to  that  time  and  relieve  their  anx- 
iety on  his  account.  After  describing  the  various  inci- 
dents of  his  journey,  he  says: 

"Almighty  God,  who  confirms  me  more  and  more  in 
my  resolution  and  gives  me  the  physical  strength  nec- 
essary to  accomplish  the  work  I  have  begun,  will  surely 
recompense  you  for  the  sacrifice  demanded  of  you.  He 
always  helps  us  to  do  what  He  requires  of  us.  Let  this 
thought,  which  inspires  me  with  courage,  console  you.  I 
embrace  you,"  etc.,  etc. 

Neumann  hoped  to  meet  in  Strasburg  Rev.  Father 
Schaefer,  who,  like  himself,  was  bound  for  America;  but 
he  had  not  yet  arrived.  Behold  the  journal  of  this  date: 


Departiire  from  Home.  117 

"I  was  disappointed  more  than  ever  here  at  Strasburg. 
How  will  affairs  turn  out  in  Nancy  ?  Will  Father  Schaefer 
come?  On  Monday  I  leave  for  Paris.  Admission  to 
either  the  diocese  of  New  York  or  Vincennes  is  uncertain. 
O  Jesus,  I  am  under  Thy  protection!  The  greater  the 
struggle,  the  more  glorious  the  victory.  Thy  will  be 
done,  O  Lord,  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven  !  I  shall  very 
probably  experience  some  perplexity  in  Nancy,  where 
French  is  the  spoken  language.  But  I  shall  be  no  loser 
thereby,  for  God  is  present  when  distress  is  greatest. 
Lord,  show  Thy  love  for  me,  that,  in  return,  I  may  love 
Thee  more  confidingly!  Jesus,  have  mercy  on  Thy  poor 
servant  who  for  Thy  sake  has  left  father  and  mother 
and  all  things  dear  to  him!  For  Thee,  my  Jesus,  I  live, 
for  Thee  I  die,  in  life  and  in  death  all  Thine  !" 

He  remained  four  days  at  Nancy,  awaiting  Father 
Schaefer's  arrival.  During  this  interval  he  prepared 
himself,  as  usual,  for  the  worthy  reception  of  his  Eucha- 
ristic  God,  from  every  one  of  whose  visits  he  gathered 
innumerable  graces  and  laid  up  a  new  increase  of  strength 
against  future  trials. 

He  writes,  March  5th:  "  My  stay  here  has  been  so  pro- 
longed that  my  funds  are  becoming  low.  It  can  be  of 
no  possible  advantage  to  me.  But  Thou  art  powerful, 

0  my  Jesus;  in  Thee  will  I  confide.     I  will  never  despair, 
however   uncertain  my  position  may  be.     Lord,  permit 
me  not  to  be  distracted  by  the  bustle  of  this  world!    Re- 
call my  wandering  soul  to  thoughts  of  Thyself  whenever 
the  things  of  this  life  have  turned  it  away  from  Thee. 
To-morrow  I  shall  again  venture  to  approach  Thy  sacred 
Banquet." 

"  March  7th. — Yesterday  I  experienced  great  devotion 
in  my  Communion,  which  I  received  at  the  Cathedral,  and 

1  made  a  vow  to  recite  daily  the  'Little   Hours  '  of  the 
Church.     May  it  be  agreeable  in  the  sight  of  God,  and 
may  He  grant  me  the  grace  to  fulfil  it  whenever  it  is  pos- 
sible !    I  went  to   the  Sisters  of  Charity  of  St.  Charles 


1 1 8  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Borromeo.  They  gave  me  a  little  book  entitled  '  Novena 
to  St.  Francis  Xavier."  I  will  make  the  novena  at  my 
first  opportunity.  The  confessor  of  the  sick  presented 
me  with  some  relics  of  the  blood  of  a  martyred  mission- 
ary of  Cochin  China.  This  good  priest,  along  with  two 
others,  greatly  approves  my  undertaking,  though  all 
three  think  it  rash  to  set  out  without  a  written  dis- 
charge and  recommendation  from  my  Bishop." 

Neumann  took  special  interest  in  the  Congregation  of 
the  Sisters  of  Charity  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo,  Nancy. 
Two  considerations  influenced  him:  first,  because  shortly 
before  three  postulants  from  Budweis  had  been  sent 
thither  by  Rev.  Father  Dichtl  with  the  view  of  introduc- 
ing those  pious  and  zealous  religious  into  Bohemia;  and 
secondly,  because  his  own  sister  Joanna  was  to-  enter 
among  them  as  soon  as  a  house  of  their  Congregation 
should  be  opened  in  Prague. 

On  March  nth,  to  Neumann's  great  joy,  Rev.  Father 
Schaefer  arrived.  At  4  P.M.  of  the  same  day  they  set 
out  for  Paris,  which  they  reached  late  that  night.  Next 
morning  they  sought  hospitality  at  the  seminary  of  St. 
Sulpice,  but  were  dismissed  with  the  remark  that  stran- 
gers could  not  be  admitted.  They  then  turned  their 
steps  to  the  house  of  "  Foreign  Missions."  Here,  also, 
they  were  regarded  with  a  sort  of  suspicion.  It  was 
only  after  repeated  entreaties  that  a  room  was  assigned 
them  for  which  they  were  to  pay  twenty  francs  a  month. 
This  unusual  conduct  on  the  part  of  those  otherwise 
hospitable  gentlemen  may  have  been  prompted  by  the 
odium  cast  upon  the  German  priesthood  in  consequence 
of  the  question  of  clerical  celibacy  agitated  by  the  clergy 
of  Wirtemberg  and  Baden. 

Disappointment  and  chagrin  attended  Neumann's 
every  step  in  Paris.  The  rich  merchant  whose  gene- 
rosity toward  the  missions  had  been  so  vaunted  was 
nowhere  to  be  found;  no  letter  was  forthcoming  from 
Bishop  Brute;  and  his  slender  purse  of  only  two  hundred 


Departure  from  Home.  119 

francs  was  already  considerably  reduced.  Reluctantly 
following  advice,  he  resolved  to  await  the  expected  an- 
swer from  Bishop  Brute,  into  whose  diocese  both  he  and 
Rev.  Father  Schaefer  had  applied  for  admission. 

Neumann's  impressions  of  Paris  are  found  in  his  third 
letter  to  his  parents: 

"  I  arrived  in  Paris  about  the  middle  of  Lent,  and  the 
first  walk  I  took  showed  me  this  city  in  glaring  colors. 
I  met  a  procession  of  masked  fools.  Carnival  clowns  I 
cannot  call  them;  for,  as  I  said,  it  was  mid-Lent,  and 
Lenten  clowns  would  be  an  appellation  not  only  quite  in- 
admissible, but  among  Christians  altogether  unchristian. 
Some  were  on  foot,  some  on  horseback,  and  others  in 
chariots.  Their  behavior  was  simply  scandalous.  I 
marvel  that  the  earth  did  not  open  and  swallow  them 
alive.  However  sad  this  picture,  that  of  the  great  devo- 
tion in  the  churches  was  consoling.  I  was  indeed  sur- 
prised to  see  in  this  so-much-decried  city  the  crowds 
that  filled  the  sacred  edifices.  Not  only  are  the  poor 
and  the  aged  there  to  be  seen,  but  multitudes  of  the 
higher  classes.  This  proves  that  the  apparently  impos- 
sible is  possible  to  God.  He  can  cause  a  camel  to  pass 
through  the  eye  of  a  needle.  He  can  harmonize  riches 
with  piety.  During  Holy  Week,  especially,  the  churches 
presented  the  sublime  spectacle  of  divine  life  in  God. 
Here  may  be  seen  the  faithful  of  every  condition  in  life 
kneeling  during  the  consecration,  kissing  the  floor,  fre- 
quenting confession  and  Holy  Communion,  etc.  In 
short,  Paris  can  display  the  two  extremes  of  piety  and 
wickedness." 

As  usual,  we  behold  Neumann  making  good  use  of  his 
stay  in  Paris.  He  frequented  the  various  churches,  daily 
heard  Mass  in  one  or  even  several,  visited  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  recited  the  Rosary,  made  the  Via  Crucis, 
and  performed  many  other  exercises  of  devotion.  Sev- 
eral times  in  the  week  he  approached  the  Holy  Table, 
his  heart  burning  with  the  purest  love,  springing  from 


I2O  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

his  lively  faith.  Behold  a  few  extracts  from  his 
journal: 

"March  i8th,  eve  of  the  Feast  of  St.  Joseph. — I  should 
like  to  receive  Holy  Communion  to-morrow.  Would 
that  my  soul  were  purer,  that  my  God  might  be  better 
pleased  with  me !  O  Jesus,  I  long  to  receive  Thee ! 
Thou  knowest  the  yearning  of  my  soul  after  the  Bread 
of  Angels;  but  if,  by  communicating,  I  should  be  so 
unhappy  as  to  commit  a  sin,  rather  let  me  die  to-night 
than  live  to  offend  Thee  !" 

The  feast  of  the  following  day  was  spent  in  the  spirit 
of  the  Church,  and  was  in  consequence  fraught  with 
graces  for  the  fervent  young  student.  On  the  evening 
of  the  ipth  he  thus  records  the  events  of  the  day: 

"Our  Lord  has  given  me  to-day  innumerable  bless- 
ings through  the  intercession  of  St.  Joseph,  whose  feast 
we  celebrated.  I  made  the  earnest  resolution  to  recite 
matins  daily,  though  I  made  no  vow  as  yet  regarding 
this  part  of  the  breviary.  I  will  strive  to  keep  my  reso- 
lution in  honor  of  St.  Joseph.  I  went  to  Notre  Dame, 
the  church  of  Our  Lady,  the  spouse  of  St.  Joseph. 
There  the  Lord  led  me  to  the  privileged  altar  of  the 
saint,  at  which  I  received  Holy  Communion." 

It  was  Neumann's  good  fortune  frequently  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  Abbe  Lacordaire's  sermons.  He  loved  to  lis- 
ten to  the  eloquence  of  the  great  Dominican  preacher, 
though  his  notes  record  the  fact  in  very  brief  words: 
"  It  has  become  fashionable  for  the  young  people  here 
to  attend  Pere  Lacordaire's  sermons.  The  church  is 
always  crowded." 

He  appears  to  have  been  particularly  impressed  by 
the  example  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  of  whom  he  re- 
peatedly makes  mention.  Under  date  of  March  3oth  he 
expresses  the  edification  the  mere  sight  of  them  caused 
him:  "  The  presence  of  these  saintly  religious  in  a  church, 
their  modest  demeanor  on  the  street,  enkindles  in  my 
heart  the  love  of  Jesus.  Would  that  it  were  in  my  power 


Departure  from  Home.  1 2 1 

to  introduce  them  into  other  cities  !  What  joy  that 
would  be  to  my  heart !  Happy  Prague !  A  great 
blessing  is  in  store  for  thee  !  Mayest  thou  be  ever 
blessed,  for  I  owe  thee  much  !"  At  Prague,  as  we  have 
before  intimated,  a  foundation  of  these  Sisters  was  to 
be  established  through  the  efforts  of  Rev.  Father 
Dichtl. 

The  house  in  which  Neumann  and  his  reverend  com- 
panion resided  whilst  in  Paris  offered  to  the  ardent  soul 
of  the  former  food  for  reflection  and  multiplied  aspira- 
tions to  God.  It  was  the  house  of  the  "Foreign  Mis- 
sions," and  the  thought  of  the  brave  hearts  that  had 
gone  forth  from  its  hallowed  precincts,  that  had  toiled 
and  suffered  for  the  glory  of  the  Heavenly  Master, 
everywhere  suggested  itself. 

"O  ye  glorified  friends  of  God,"  he  exclaimed,  "ye 
who  once  dwelt  under  this  roof,  who  occupied  this  very 
room,  ye  who  gave  your  life-blood  for  Jesus,  pray  for  me, 
a  poor  sinner,  that  the  Almighty  may  deign  to  make  me 
like  unto  you  !" 

The  beautiful  church  of  St.  Genevieve,  converted  by 
the  Revolution  into  a  pantheon,  exerted  a  saddening  in- 
fluence on  Neumann's  mind.  His  indignation  finds  vent 
in  these  words: 

"Alas  for  Christians  changed  to  Pagans!  O  God, 
have  mercy  on  us!  Permit  not  these  multitudes  of  Thy 
creatures  to  perish  forever!  They  are  Thy  creatures;  for 
them  Thy  well-beloved  Son  shed  His  Blood." 

One  day,  whilst  returning  from  the  church  of  St. 
Roche,  he  lost  his  way  and  wandered  into  one  of  the 
picture-galleries  of  the  Louvre.  That  evening  he  records 
the  following:  "  Too  great  liberty  of  the  eyes.  Perhaps 
purity  of  heart  has  suffered  thereby.  So  will  it  ever 
be  when  one  runs  wilfully  into  dangerous  occasions." 
And  here  follow  heart-felt  expressions  of  self-condemna- 
tion. He  looks  upon  himself  as  impure,  unfaithful,  an 
outcast,  the  greatest  of  sinners.  Peace  of  heart  was 


122  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

restored  only  after  having  unburdened  his  conscience  in 
the  tribunal  of  penance.  Behold  his  resolutions  of 
amendment: 

"Henceforth  I  will  be  more  on  my  guard.  I  will  use 
my  glasses  only  when  absolutely  necessary,  that  my  soul 
may  be  less  open  to  the  attacks  of  Satan,  who  enters 
through  the  eyes.  I  will  remain  more  in  my  own 
room,  and  study  French  and  English.  This  will  give 
Thee  greater  honor,  my  Jesus,  than  the  gratification 
of  my  curiosity  would  do.  On  Fridays  I  will  make 
the  Stations  and  recite  the  Rosary.  O  Jesus,  assist 
me  to  keep  these  resolutions  according  to  Thy  holy  will ! 
Thou  hast  already  taught  me  how  to  fast  and' pray;  the 
former  I  must  practise  more  diligently,  that  my  flesh  may 
not  become  rebellious." 

Father  Schaefer  and  Neumann  often  took  long  walks 
together.  On  returning  from  one  of  these  rambles, 
Neumann  records  the  following  significant  remark: 
"Thanks  to  Thee,  O  my  Jesus,  the  picture-gallery  was 
closed!  Had  it  been  otherwise,  matters  might  have  gone 
badly  with  me." 

The  privation  on  which  he  so  heartily  congratulated 
himself  was,  however,  amply  compensated  by  the  pleas- 
ure derived  from  a  visit  to  the  zoological  and  horticul- 
tural gardens. 

Another  temptation,  more  difficult  for  one  of  Neu- 
mann's inclinations  to  resist,  was  that  held  out  by  the 
bookstores.  Many  were  the  purchases  there  made  of 
what  seemed  to  him  at  the  time  either  absolutely  neces- 
sary or,  at  least,  very  useful;  but  after-thought  generally 
brought  with  it  the  conviction  that  such  outlays  were 
not  for  one  of  his  limited  means.  Whilst  in  Paris,  he 
purchased  at  different  times  "  Theotymus ;"  a  Greek 
Bible;  a  Spanish  prayer-book;  Fleury;  the  "Works  of  St. 
Francis  de  Sales;"  "Devotion  to  the  Passion  of  Our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ;"  "Entretiens  avec  Jesus;"  "The 
Spiritual  Combat,"  etc.,  etc.  Now  he  rejoices  at  having 


Departure  from  Home.  123 

possessed  himself  of  some  coveted  treasure,  and  again 
he  accuses  himself  of  bibliomania: 

"Before  God,  it  is  high  time  for  me  to  put  an  end  to 
these  purchases.  For  the  future  I  shall  avoid  temptation 
by  staying  either  at  home  or  in  church." 

Not  many  days  go  by,  and  we  again  read:  "  My  great- 
est temptation  is  to  procure  beautiful  books.  I  begin 
by  imagining  that  such  or  such  a  book  would  be  useful 
to  me,  and  that  I  must  have  it.  This  desire  is  so  vehe- 
ment that  it  seems  to  penetrate  my  very  soul,  and  yet  I 
ought  to  entertain  myself  with  Jesus  Christ  alone.  To- 
day brought  me  a  fresh  struggle,  another  temptation  in 
the  form  of  a  magnificent  Greek-English  dictionary.  I 
have  wanted  one  like  it  a  long  time.  I  was  on  the  point 
of  asking  the  price,  but,  with  God's  help,  I  resisted  the 
temptation  and  hurried  into  a  church.  I  must  struggle 
against  this  enemy  which  I  find  ever  ready  to  attack  me." 

On  another  occasion  a  small  ivory  crucifix  attracted 
his  attention.  It  was  very  beautiful,  and  Neumann,  ever 
alive  to  all  that  is  lovely  in  nature  or  art,  felt  that  he 
must  have  it.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  it  was  soon 
transferred  to  his  possession.  The  cost,  indeed,  was  not 
so  great  in  itself;  but  when  we  consider  our  young  hero's 
slender  purse,  we  catch,  as  it  were,  an  insight  into  the 
elevated  soul  whose  happiness  lay  in  the  gratification  of 
such  tastes.  Nor  is  it  without  a  certain  sense  of  appre- 
ciation that  we  recall  the  fact  that  he  who  knew  so  well 
how  to  deny  his  body  the  usual  quantum  of  food  and 
rest  could  not  resist  the  attractions  held  forth  by  books 
and  beautiful  specimens  of  sacred  art.  The  circumstance 
of  the  ivory  crucifix  called  for  the  following  note  in  his 
journal.  We  cannot  read  it  without  a  sympathetic  glow 
in  our  own  heart,  and  we  congratulate  him  on  the  pos- 
session of  his  treasure:  "  My  little  crucifix  has  given  me 
the  greatest  pleasure.  I  have  long  wished  for  such  a 
one.  Seven  francs  do  not  seem  so  much  tor  what  affords 
such  gratification." 


124  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Neumann's  stay  in  Paris  soon  grew  tedious.  To  the 
silent  pages  of  his  faithful  journal  he  confides  the 
uneasiness  and  misgivings  aroused  by  Bishop  Brute's 
long  delay  in  replying  to  his  letter: 

"  March  22d. — Still  in  Paris,  almost  two  hundred  Ger- 
man miles  from  my  loved  country,  where  the  tender  care 
of  friends  and  relatives  would  lighten  the  burden  of  my 
existence.  My  funds  have  dwindled  to  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  francs,  and  here  must  I  stay  till  the  Sunday 
after  Easter.  O  my  God,  what  shall  I  do  if  Bishop 
Brute  does  not  come,  or  if  he  will  not  receive  me  ?" 

Again:  "My  soul  is  in  distress  as  to  the  future.  My 
want  of  means,  the  uncertainty  of  my  reception  in 
America,  and  even  the  voyage  across  the  ocean — all  com- 
bine to  destroy  my  peace.  Several  vessels  have  been 
wrecked  lately,  and  I  shrink  from  the  dangers  of  the 
ocean.  My  want  of  confidence  undoubtedly  springs  from 
my  want  of  mortification.  I  am  too  much  given  to  idle 
thoughts  and  desires.  I  must  rise  out  of  all  this.  St. 
Francis  Xavier  had  unbounded  confidence,  and  therefore 
God  worked  miracles  through  him.  After  his  example, 
I  will  love  Jesus  more  by  deeds,  and  then  I,  too,  shall 
have  more  confidence  and  courage.  O  Jesus,  Thou  hast 
indeed  much  to  bear  from  me!  My  rudeness  heaps 
upon  Thee  a  thousand  insults,  even  before  it  is  conscious 
of  the  wrong  it  inflicts." 

On  March  2oth  he  felt  interiorly  urged  to  make  a 
review  of  all  his  confessions  of  the  past  year.  The 
inspiration  fell  upon  good  soil  when  it  entered  the  soul 
of  John  Neumann,  as  we  may  conclude  from  the  follow- 
ing note: 

"Whilst  saying  my  Office,  the  thought  occurred  to  me 
to  make  another  general  confession.  I  will  do  so  at 
Montmartre  in  honor  of  St.  Dionysius  and  the  saintly 
priests  Ignatius,  Francis  Xavier,  etc.,  who  there  entered 
into  a  holy  covenant  for  the  greater  glory  of  God.  I 
will  go  at  once  and  inquire  the  regulations  of  the  church 


Departure  from  Home.  125 

at  Montmartre,  that,  cleansed  from  my  sins  in  Thy 
Precious  Blood,  O  Jesus,  my  prayers  may  be  heard,  and 
I  may  receive  Thy  grace!  St.  Ignatius  Loyola,  St. 
Francis  Xavier,  St.  Francis  de  Sales,  St.  Genevieve,  all 
ye  holy  souls  who  in  Paris  once  lived  and  still  live,  all  ye 
whose  holy  relics  rest  here,  obtain  for  me,  a  sinner,  the 
grace  of  true  repentance!" 

Thus  resolved,  he  set  to  work  to  note  down  his  sins, 
which  he  did  all  the  more  carefully,  as  he  distrusted  his 
own  proficiency  in  the  French  language.  He  feared  be- 
ing betrayed  into  a  want  of  clearness  in  expressing  him- 
self. Four  days  were  thus  spent.  He  says:  "  To-morrow 
I  will  try  to  finish  my  examination  of  conscience.  Then 
I  shall  have  but  one  desire,  that  of  making  my  general 
confession  as  soon  and  as  perfectly  as  possible.  My  God, 
direct  me  !  To  Thee  do  I  cry  from  the  depths  of  my 
wretched  heart !  Have  mercy  on  me  !  I  weep,  but  what 
kind  of  tears  ?  If  they  were  tears  of  love  for  Jesus,  I 
would  gather  them  up  as  precious  pearls.  But,  alas,  they 
fall  on  account  of  the  unhappy  state  of  my  soul !" 

His  examination,  lengthy  and  minute,  finished  on 
March  24th,  the  eve  of  the  Annunciation:  "I  have  just 
finished  my  examen  since  my  last  general  confession  of 
February  14,  1835.  O  my  God,  Thou  knowest  that  I 
have  reopened  those  wounds  of  my  soul  only  for  the 
greater  security  of  my  conscience  !  This  is  Thy  work, 
O  my  God,  for  I  used  to  think  such  an  undertaking  be- 
yond my  strength  !  Thy  yoke  is  sweet  and  invigorating  ! 
O  my  Jesus,  I  fear  nothing  now,  excepting  that  I  may 
recall  some  sins  either  this  evening  or  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, and  so  my  work  remain  only  half  done  !  My  most 
amiable  Jesus,  Thy  wisdom  and  power  have  given  me 
new  life,  Thy  goodness  has  strengthened  me  !  O  Jesus, 
look  down  upon  my  sins  here  laid  at  the  foot  of  Thy 
cross  !  Alas,  they  are  wicked  deeds  !  They  nailed  Thee, 
the  Most  Ho'ly,  my  most  amiable  Lord,  my  Master,  my 
God,  to  the  cross  !  Oh,  would  that  my  heart  could  melt 


126  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

with  sorrow  !  Ah,  it  is  a  bitter  thought !  My  Jesus, 
perfect  Thy  work,  give  me  contrition  equal  to  my  sins  ! 
Give  me  Thy  love,  that  my  sorrow  may  be  true  and 
sincere !" 

Circumstances  prevented  his  making  his  confession  at 
Montmartre,  so  he  confessed  and  communicated,  on  the 
Feast  of  the  Annunciation,  at  the  church  of  Notre  Dame. 
On  the  following  day  he  received  Holy  Communion  at 
Montmartre,  in  honor  of  St.  Ignatius.  His  general  con- 
fession was  made  with  the  greatest  devotion,  fervor,  and 
childlike  sincerity.  But,  as  if  to  try  His  servant's  cour- 
age, Almighty  God  permitted  him  to  fall  almost  imme- 
diately into  profound  desolation,  which  state  continued 
throughout  the  entire  day.  Let  us  listen  to  him  as  he 
describes  this  severe  trial: 

"  O  Lord,"  he  exclaims,  "there  is  naught  but  gloom 
and  misery  in  my  soul;  the  staff  on  which  my  hope 
rested  is  broken.  I  am  like  a  plank  at  sea  dashed  about 
by  the  winds  and  waves.  Chaos  more  dreary,  more 
desolate  than  reigned  in  my  soul  to-day,  could  not  have 
existed  before  creation." 

That  evening  he  again  writes:  "  The  storm  that  raged 
in  my  soul  all  day  has  somewhat  abated;  still  I  cannot 
pray.  This  morning,  full  of  courage  and  good  resolu- 
tions, I  entered  a  confessional  at  Notre  Dame,  and  con- 
fessed my  sins  most  carefully.  My  soul  was  at  peace. 
But  scarcely  had  I  left  the  confessional  when  I  was  over- 
whelmed by  a  sense  of  my  own  utter  unworthiness,  such 
as  I  had  never  before  experienced.  As  for  several  days 
I  had  looked  forward  most  eagerly  to  a  devout  reception 
of  the  Holy  Eucharist  on  this  feast,  this  unexpected  trial 
fell  upon  me  with  crushing  weight.  It  was  with  diffi- 
culty I  repressed  a  cry  of  pain.  I  moved  on  to  another 
altar  at  which  Mass  was  about  to  be  said.  Regarding 
the  storm  so  suddenly  raised  in  my  soul  as  a  passing 
temptation,  I  was  still  resolved  to  communicate.  But 
when  the  moment  arrived,  my  conscience  was  in  such  a 


Departure  from  Home.  127 

state  of  revolt  that  I  refrained  from  Holy  Communion, 
notwithstanding  the  sacrifices  I  had  made  in  preparation. 
On  my  return  home,  Rev.  Father  Schaefer  received  a 
letter  from  Bishop  Brute,  promising  him  a  position  in 
his  diocese,  but  making  no  allusion  to  me.  I  yielded  to 
the  bitterness  of  my  soul.  I  had  not  the  strength  to 
control  it,  though  it  would  have  been  better  for  me  had 
I  done  so.  Worn  out  with  the  struggles  of  the  day,  I 
fell  toward  evening  into  a  deep  sleep,  from  which  I 
awoke  refreshed  and  somewhat  comforted.  I  had  been 
afraid  to  pray;  it  seemed  to  me  so  utterly  useless.  But 
now  I  must  say  my  Office  and  other  prayers,  and  await 
better  times." 

Next  day  he  writes:  "Comparative  peace  of  soul  is 
again  mine.  In  spite  of  my  little  devotion  and  feeble 
desires,  I  went  to  Holy  Communion.  Thanks  to  God's 
grace,  I  kept  perfect  guard  over  my  eyes  all  day.  This 
morning  I  copied  the  protestation  from  '  Philothea,' 
which  on  the  day  after  to-morrow,  my  birthday,  I  will 
sign  in  the  church  of  Montmartre,  in  honor  of  the 
founder  of  the  Society  of  Jesus.  I  will  also  go  to  Holy 
Communion,  if  possible.  I  feel  more  cheerful  to-day." 

The  day  following  happened  to  be  Palm-Sunday. 
Consolation  and  encouragement  seem  to  have  returned,  in 
some  degree,  to  Neumann's  pious  soul:  "  I  went  at  an  early 
hour  to  the  church  of  Notre  Dame,  and  communicated 
with  some  little  feeling  of  devotion.  I  did  this  in  com- 
parative peace,  despite  certain  doubts  which  often  de- 
prive me  of  my  greatest  good.  I  wonder  to  find  myself 
so  full  of  courage.  I  feel  ready  for  any  cross,  even  if 
accompanied  by  disgrace.  My  greatest  trial,  however, 
would  be  to  have  to  return  home.  I  should  certainly 
feel  that  keenly.  But  were  Almighty  God  to  allow  such 
a  termination  to  my  project,  He  would  not  fail  to  sus- 
tain me  by  His  grace.  If  it  be  for  His  greater  glory  and 
my  own  salvation,  I  am  resigned  to  His  holy  will.  Our 
Lord  sent  me  to-day  an  opportunity  of  fasting.  I  gladly 


128  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

availed  myself  of  it  in  honor  of  St.  Francis  Xavier,  who, 
as  is  related  in  the  '  Novena,'  abstained  from  all  kinds  of 
food  for  three  and  four  days  at  a  time  during  his  retreat. 
To-morrow,  March  28th,  my  birthday,  I  will  perform  my 
devotions  at  Montmartre.  and  sign  the  protestation  which 
I  am  resolved  to  read  every  day,  or  at  least  before  every 
Holy  Communion.  I  have  now  been  saying  my  Rosary 
daily  for  some  time,  and  many  are  the  graces  it  has 
brought  me.  I  feel  that  to  it  I  owe  the  inspirations 
which  prompted  my  confessions  and  good  resolutions. 
I  will  continue  to  recite  it  with  still  greater  devotion  for 
my  own  benefit,  as  well  as  for  my  dear  parents,  relations, 
benefactors,  friends,  and  enemies — in  short,  for  all  who 
have  ever  recommended  themselves  to  my  prayers.  For- 
sake me  not,  O  God,  to-morrow !  Have  mercy  on 
me!" 

The  morning  of  the  28th,  Neumann's  twenty-fifth 
birthday,  broke  dark  and  lowering.  The  rain  fell  in 
torrents,  but,  faithful  to  his  resolution,  he  set  out  for 
Montmartre,  to  perform  his  devotions  in  honor  of  St. 
Francis  Xavier.  During  the  Holy  Sacrifice  he  signed 
the  protestation  which  he  had  previously  made  in  spirit 
and  in  truth.  Whilst  thus  holily  engaged,  he  felt  in- 
spired by  Almighty  God  to  receive  Holy  Communion 
more  frequently.  The  incalculable  benefit  that  would 
accrue  to  his  soul  therefrom  was  clearly  shown  him.  In 
the  following  words  he  expresses  his  gratitude  for  the 
light  vouchsafed  him: 

"O  Jesus,  with  all  my  heart  I  thank  Thee  for  teaching 
me  that  only  in  the  frequent  reception  of  Thy  Most  Holy 
Body  can  I  find  spiritual  nourishment  and  salvation!" 

That  same  day,  as  he  was  returning  from  church,  he 
found  an  opportunity  of  helping  a  little  child,  though  in 
what  he  does  not  tell  us:  "On  my  way  home,  our  Lord 
granted  me  the  happiness  of  rendering  a  trifling  service 
to  a  little  child."  In  this  remark  we  discover  more  than 
the  words  themselves  imply;  for  we  see  how  every 


Departure  from  Home.  129 

circumstance  of  life,  even  the  seemingly  indifferent,  was 
by  Neumann  directly  referred  to  Almighty  God. 

Many  favors  appear  to  have  been  bestowed  upon  him 
on  this  day,  in  reward,  no  doubt,  of  his  fidelity.  Behold 
his  own  words: 

"  O  my  Lord,  I  thank  Thee  for  the  love  Thou  hast  be- 
gun to  plant  in  my  heart!  I  will  cultivate  the  precious 
germ;  I  will  cherish  it  as  coming  from  Thee,  my  Heav- 
enly Spouse!  I  will  guard  it  day  and  night  that  nothing 
may  injure  it;  that  its  delicious  fragrance  may  greet 
Thee  on  Thy  entrance  into  my  heart.  But  do  Thou,  O 
Lord,  water  it  with  the  dew  of  Thy  grace;  do  Thou 
cause  it  to  flourish,  else  it  will  wither  and  fall  to  the 
earth.  O  Mary,  Mother  of  my  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in 
union  with  all  the  saints  and  angels,  pray  for  me  that  I 
may  become  a  perfect  disciple  of  Jesus!" 

Neumann  clearly  recognized  and  keenly  deplored  what 
he  called  his  moral  infirmities,  his  lack  of  energy  for 
good,  his  proneness  to  evil;  and  heart- felt  was  his  hu- 
miliation before  God  when  he  contemplated  his  want 
of  correspondence  with  grace.  "  Lord  Jesus,"  he  cries, 
"do  not  punish  me  by  detaining  me  here  in  Europe,  as 
I  have  a  thousand  times  deserved!  Poverty  and  disgrace 
I  am  willing  to  bear,  O  my  Jesus;  but,  ah,  do  not  punish 
me  by  holding  me  back  from  the  sublime  and  life-giving 
struggle  for  souls!  My  severe  headache  prevents  my 
praying  or  studying  long  to-day,  though  I  feel  great 
need  of  both.  But  if  my  patience  will  now  be  more 
acceptable  to  Thee  than  study  or  prayer,  may  Thy  holy 
will  be  done!" 

Here  lay  the  secret  of  his  strength,  the  holy  will  of 
God.  It  sustained  him  in  trial,  enlightened  him  in 
doubt,  soothed  him  in  anxiety,  calmed  him  in  the  rudest 
storms.  Confidence  in  God,  the  total  abandonment  to 
Him  of  self  and  of  everything  pertaining  to  the  future, 
shone  forth  conspicuously  in  Neumann  at  this  time. 

"  My  old  courage,"  he  writes,  "  has  revived.     Our  Lord 


130  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

has  never  permitted  utter  discouragement  to  assail  me, 
though  the  prospects  for  my  journey  still  cause  me  con- 
siderable anxiety.  Surely  an  answer  must  soon  be 
forthcoming  from  Bishop  Brute.  He  must  have  received 
my  letter  in  Lyons.  O  Jesus,  I  thank  Thee  with  all  my 
heart  for  having  placed  me  in  so  difficult,  so  perplexing 
a  position!  O  God,  my  longing  for  virtue  grows  more 
earnest,  more  fervent!  Grant  me,  I  pray  Thee,  faith,  the 
foundation  of  the  Christian  life;  hope,  which  sustains  in 
every  combat;  and  the  holy  virtue  of  charity!  But,  above 
all,  dearest  Jesus,  give  me  Thyself  !  To-morrow  I  will 
again  present  myself  to  receive  Thee,  my  Creator,  my 
Redeemer,  my  Sanctifier!" 

The  last  three  days  of  Holy  Week  were  devoted  in  a 
special  manner  to  the  consideration  of  the  sufferings  of 
our  Redeemer.  On  Wednesday  evening  of  that  week  he 
records  the  following:  "Ah,  my  Jesus,  the  bitter-sweet 
days  of  Thy  Passion  and  death  draw  near!  Could  I 
rightly  meditate  upon  their  mysteries,  I  would  do  so. 
But  Thou  hast  bestowed  upon  me  only  the  gift  of  vocal 
prayer  and  the  simple  consideration  of  Thy  life  and 
sufferings,  for  which  gift  I  thank  Thee  from  the  bottom 
of  my  heart.  To-morrow,  Holy  Thursday,  I  will  re- 
ceive Holy  Communion  in  the  parish  church;  then  I  shall 
adore  Jesus  in  His  Passion,  and  visit  some  of  the  other 
churches." 

"  Holy  Thursday. — On  returning  home,  the  thought  of 
fasting  till  -eight  that  evening  presented  itself;  but  I 
waived  it,  as  I  intended  visiting  Father  Fischer  at  noon, 
and  doubtless  he  would  have  invited  me  to  breakfast 
with  him.  But  I  was  prevented.  When  about  to  leave 
my  room,  I  found  that  the  servant  had  inadvertently 
locked  me  in.  My  mishap  caused  me  more  satis- 
faction than  regret,  since  by  it  I  understood  that  the 
inspiration  to  prolong  my  fast  actually  came  from  God. 
I  comforted  myself  with  Bourdaloue's  sermons.  They 
inundated  my  soul  with  joy  and  devotion.  During  the 


Departure  from  Home.  131 

evening  I  received  a  letter  from  Rev.  Father  Rass  of 
Strasburg,  which  contributed  very  much  to  brighten  up 
my  spirits.  Father  Rass  held  out  to  me  the  hope  of 
being  received  by  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Brute,  and  men- 
tioned, likewise,  his  having  applied  for  my  admission  to 
the  diocese  of  New  York.  My  effects  are  now  being 
forwarded  to  me.  Full  of  interior  joy,  I  went  to  Notre 
Dame,  heard  a  sermon,  and  visited  the  Holy  Sepulchre. 
O  my  Jesus,  how  is  it  that  on  the  days  that  commem- 
orate Thy  great  sufferings  I  receive  such  graces,  taste 
such  joys,  whilst  on  the  glad  festivals  of  the  Church  it 
is  just  the  reverse?  Ah,  my  Jesus,  Thou  dost  wish  to 
encourage  me  to  bear  joy  and  sorrow  equally  for  Thy 
sake!" 

Good-Friday  was  spent  by  Neumann  in  church,  medi- 
tating upon  Jesus  in  His  Passion,  death,  and  burial. 
That  evening  he  accuses  himself  of  having  prolonged 
his  fast  only  till  four  o'clock.  Then  he  adds:  "  My  long- 
ing for  the  Blessed  Sacrament  has  increased  since  I  have 
experienced  how  much  it  weakens  my  bad  habits,  incli- 
nations, and  passions,  gives  me  strength  to  combat,  and 
fills  my  heart  with  joy  and  peace.  The  love  of  Jesus 
sweetens  what  is  bitter.  Temptation  is  often  a  subject 
of  congratulation  to  me,  since  it  affords  me  an  opportu- 
nity of  proving  my  fidelity  to  God.  Ah,  my  Jesus, 
how  glad  I  am  that  Thy  death-agony  is  over!  The 
thought  of  Thy  sufferings  gives  me  pain;  and  does  not 
every  sin  I  commit  torture  Thee,  crucify  Thee  anew? 
Help  me,  O  my  dearest  Mother  Mary,  to  fulfil  in  all 
things  the  most  holy  will  of  Thy  Son  Jesus!  Help  me, 
that  I  may  never  more  offend  Him!" 

Holy  Saturday  found  the  pious  young  student  still 
occupied  with  thoughts  of  his  Saviour,  now  resting  in  the 
sepulchre,  now  risen  from  the  dead.  Nearly  the  whole 
day  was  passed  in  church,  as  we  read  in  his  own  account 
of  it,  which  closes  with  the  following  childlike  petition: 

"Ah,  my  Jesus,  stay  with  me!     Or  wilt  Thou  abandon 


132  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

me  to-morrow,  as  Thou  dost  generally  do  on  festival- 
days  ?  May  Thy  will  be  done!  Let  me  not  fall  into  sin; 
teach  me  to  detest  and  avoid  it.  Hark  to  Our  Lady,  the 
angels  and  saints!  They  cry  in  ecstatic  joy,  'Alleluia! 
The  Lord  is  risen! '  O  glorified  Jesus,  have  mercy  on 
me!" 

On  this  day  certain  individuals  of  the  house  behaved 
in  a  rude  and  insulting  manner  to  young  Neumann,  who, 
as  was  his  wont  on  such  occasions,  took  little  notice  of 
their  conduct.  He  merely  remarks: 

"  I  will  pray  for  all  who  have  offended  me,  or  rather  I 
will  pray  for  humiliations.  I  will  ask  that  they  may 
come  upon  me  in  such  a  way  that  God  may  not  be  of- 
fended by  them,  and  that  I  may  become  more  like  my 
Saviour  in  patience  and  meekness.  Do  I  not  deserve 
severer  reprimands,  greater  punishments  ?  Truly  I  do, 
O  my  Jesus!  Were  the  whole  world  to  tread  me  under 
foot,  I  should  still  be  forced  to  acknowledge  that  I  de- 
serve such  treatment  a  thousand  times." 

The  want  of  correspondence  between  the  ceremonies 
he  witnessed  in  the  churches  of  Paris  and  those  of  the 
Roman  ritual,  to  which  he  had  ever  been  accustomed, 
was  by  no  means  agreeable  to  Neumann.  It  evoked 
from  his  pen  the  following  remark:  "  The  difference  in 
the  ceremonies  made  a  very  disagreeable  impression 
upon  me.  It  can  scarcely  be  the  spirit  of  Christ  that 
has  introduced  such  changes;  consequently  there  is 
wanting,  even  in  the  hymns,  that  simple,  tender,  elevat- 
ing character  so  noticeable  in  the  Roman  liturgy.  I 
prefer  in  obedience  to  accomplish  something  less  per- 
fect than,  through  self-seeking  and  vanity,  to  attain 
greater  perfection." 

The  festival  of  Easter  was  in  fact,  as  he  had  antici- 
pated, a  joyless  day  to  Neumann.  Although  he  had 
devoutly  received  Holy  Communion,  he  grieved  over 
his  tepidity  in  the  performance  of  other  spiritual  exer- 
ercises.  He  ascribes  his  indignation  at  the  changes 


Departure  from  Home.  133 

introduced  by  the  Gallican  church  into  her  liturgy  to  his 
own  pride,  for  which  he  imposed  on  himself  a  penance. 
Finally,  we  find  him  resolving  no  longer  to  await  Bishop 
Brute's  answer,  but  to  continue  his  journey  on  the  fol- 
lowing Tuesday. 

On  Easter-Monday  he  communicated,  made  his  thanks- 
giving till  nine  o'clock,  and  then  began  the  necessary 
preparations  for  his  voyage.  Five  P.M.  the  next  day  was 
fixed  for  his  departure  from  the  great  French  metropolis. 
Twenty-nine  francs  were  expended  for  fare,  the  trans- 
portation of  baggage  and  the  box  of  books  received  from 
Dr.  Ra'ss.  That  evening  he  writes: 

"O  God,  my  undertaking  is  still  marked  by  unlooked- 
for  incidents,  failures,  humiliations,  and  disappointed 
hopes.  I  see,  my  God,  that  Thou  dost  will  to  do  Thy 
work  alone.  My  good  God,  willingly  and  cheerfully  do 
I  abandon  myself  to  Thy  care!  My  own  designs  never 
lead  to  anything  good.  Be  Thou,  therefore,  my  constant 
guide  and  protector!  My  Jesus,  soon  shall  I  embark 
upon  the  sea  of  Thy  Almighty  Power!  But  joyfully  will 
I  accept  whatever  Thou  hast  marked  out  for  me,  even 
death  itself  if  conducive  to  Thy  glory  and  my  own  sal- 
vation!" 

Tuesday  evening,  as  previously  arranged,  he  bade 
farewell  to  Paris,  no  letter  having  as  yet  been  received 
from  Bishop  Brute\  The  resolution  to  confide  wholly 
in  Divine  Providence  was  to  be  the  guiding-star  of  our 
courageous  young  student,  and  to  it  he  entrusted  the 
vocation  that  was  to  be  his  in  the  New  World.  Arrived 
at  last  at  the  station  whence  the  stage-coach  was  to 
start,  fancy  his  dismay  on  being  informed  that  it  had  left 
just  five  minutes  before!  To  overtake  it  he  hired  a  cab, 
at  a  cost  of  five  francs;  but  on  reaching  the  city  limits 
the  driver  refused  to  proceed  further.  These  incidents 
the  journal  thus  records: 

"I  would  not  turn  back;  so,  trusting  to  my  strong 
limbs,  I  trudged  coolly  along  the  road  toward  the  sea, 


134  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

though  the  sun  had  already  set.  It  grew  darker  and 
darker,  and  rain  began  to  fall.  The  end  of  this  night- 
ramble  found  me  thoroughly  drenched,  though  not  un- 
usually fatigued,  and  so  I  arrived  at  Nanterre." 

Here  he  was  accosted  by  a  good  old  Frenchman,  who, 
noticing  the  perplexity  of  the  young  stranger,  conducted 
him  to  the  station  and  assisted  him  to  mount  to  the  top 
of  the  stage-coach,  on  the  point  of  starting  for  St.  Ger- 
main. For  the  good  old  man's  services  Neumann  had 
to  pay  seventeen  sous.  At  St.  Germain  he  found  time 
to  make  a  pencil-note  of  the  condition  of  his  soul: 

"  Ah!  what  is  this,  my  dearest  Jesus?"  he  asks.  "  Thou 
dost  tighten  the  reins,  that  I  may  not  wander  from  the 
right  path.  Dear  Lord,  I  thank  Thee  for  it!  My  pre- 
sent position  is  full  of  the  most  painful  uncertainty,  yet 
this,  too,  is  Thy  most  holy  will.  Mayest  Thou,  O  my 
Jesus,  be  forever  blessed!  Bright  and  early  to-mor- 
row I  will  go  on  foot  to  Rouen.  I  shall  reach  it  in  good 
time.  I  had  better  spend  the  nights  in  travelling,  for 
then  I  shall  not  have  to  pay  for  lodgings.  However, 
may  Thy  holy  will  be  done,  my  Jesus!  I  will  practise 
resignation  in  adversity  for  the  love  of  Thee,  that  Thou 
mayest  have  mercy  on  me  and  on  all  my  loved  ones. 
Lord  Jesus,  how  sweet  dost  Thou  not  make  my  painful 
position!  Lord,  stay  with  me  now  and  ever!  Amen!" 

Early  next  morning  he  set  out  on  foot  for  Meulan, 
where,  for  ten  francs,  he  purchased  a  seat  on  the  stage- 
coach bound  for  Havre.  At  Rouen  he  entered  the  fol- 
lowing note  in  his  journal:  "My  dearest  Jesus,  I  thank 
Thee  for  this  day  of  suffering!  Since  my  journey  began, 
this  is  the  first  day  Thou  didst  try  me  sharply!  But, 
with  the  help  of  Thy  grace,  I  have  overcome  my  enemy. 
I  have  been  far  from  well;  my  head  ached  all  day;  the 
past  and  the  future  lay  like  a  hundredweight  upon  my 
heart;  the  conductor's  rudeness  aggravated  my  dis- 
tressed position;  but,  because  I  turned  to  Thee,  my 
Jesus,  or  rather  because  Thou  didst  turn  to  me,  I  bore 


Departiire  from  Home.  135 

all  patiently  for  Thy  love!  O  Jesus,  I  renew  my  morn- 
ing offering  of  the  sufferings  of  this  day.  I  offer  them 
for  Thy  glory,  for  the  good  of  my  own  soul,  and  for  the 
souls  of  those  to  whom  I  am  related  as  son,  brother, 
relative,  subject,  and  client.  My  God,  I  now  near  the 
term  of  my  journey  in  this  part  of  my  native  land.  Soon 
shall  I  leave  it.  O  Jesus,  forgive  the  sins  I  have  com- 
mitted here  in  the  Old  World!  Help  me,  O  Almighty 
Lord,  to  overcome,  to  root  out  the  wicked  passions  that 
have  taken  possession  of  me!  Nowhere  am  I  better  off 
than  with  Thee,  my  Jesus!  While  crossing  a  marshy 
tract  to-day,  I  lost  my  crucifix.  I  certainly  regret  my 
little  treasure;  but  what  does  it  signify,  provided  I  lose 
not  Thee,  my  Jesus  ?  Since  Thou  hast  permitted  this 
loss  to  befall  me,  I  beseech  Thee,  for  the  sake  of  the 
tears  with  which  I  so  often  bedewed  the  little  crucifix, 
to  allow  it  to  fall  in  the  way  of  some  pious  soul  who  will 
embrace  it  with  greater  love,  shed  over  it  tears  of  truer 
contrition  than  I  ever  did!  Oh,  that  I,  miserable  sinner 
as  I  am,  could  proclaim  to  all  the  world  the  sweetness  of 
Thy  love,  the  happiness  hidden  in  suffering  with  Thee 
and  for  Thee,  my  dear  Redeemer!  Ah!  this  privilege 
will  indeed  be  mine  when  Thou  hast  received  me  into 
Thy  holy  service.  Come  to  my  aid,  O  my  Lord; 
strengthen  me  in  good  that  I  be  not  a  sounding  bell, 
calling  others  to  devotions  in  which  it  never  joins  itself! 
Ah,  Lord,  I  am  now  alone!  no  friend,  no  acquaintance, 
and  in  a  strange  land!  But,  surely,  Thou  dost  ordain 
this,  in  order  to  prove  that  Thou  Thyself,  the  strong 
God,  will  combat  for  me!  Oh,  lead  me  safe  to-morrow 
into  the  haven  [Havre  de  Grace],  as  Thou  once  didst  lead 
me  into  the  haven  of  grace!  Jesus,  Mary,  Joseph, 
mercy!" 

A  very  pleasing  little  incident  occurred  to  our  young 
traveller  on  his  journey  to  Havre,  which  we  cannot  but 
ascribe  to  the  loving  care  of  Divine  Providence  in  his 
regard.  At  one  of  the  stations  on  the  road  the  coach 


136  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

i 

halted,  and  Neumann's  travelling  companions  alighted 
to  take  dinner.  Neumann,  also,  began  to  feel  his 
strength  giving  out;  nature  called  for  food.  Alighting 
with  the  rest,  he  followed  the  direction  of  the  crowd, 
but  at  a  slower  pace,  mentally  revolving  the  question  as 
to  how  with  the  least  outlay  he  could  procure  some 
refreshment  for  his  weary  frame.  Just  at  this  moment 
a  friendly  voice  fell  upon  his  ear,  as  if  calling  to  him. 
Turning  his  eyes  in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  he  beheld 
a  tidy-looking  little  woman,  who  proved  to  be  the  inn- 
keeper's wife,  beckoning  him  into  one  of  the  eating- 
rooms.  He  obeyed  the  sign  and  entered  almost  mechan- 
ically. He  soon  found  himself  at  table  with  several 
dishes  set  before  him.  But  here  he  paused  embarrassed, 
and  excused  himself  from  partaking  of  the  food  on  the 
plea  of  want  of  means.  Such  variety,  he  said,  was  not 
necessary;  he  could  do  with  less.  "  Eat,  eat,"  said  his 
kind-hearted  hostess  encouragingly;  "  we  will  not  quar- 
rel over  the  bill."  Neumann  waited  for  no  second  invi- 
tation, and,  after  a  hearty  meal,  the  words,  "  Pray  for  us, 
pray  for  us!"  was  all  he  heard  by  way  of  settlement. 

On  April  yth  our  travellers  arrived  at  Havre.  Neu- 
mann's first  care  was  to  visit  his  Lord  in  the  Blessed 
Sacrament,  after  which  he  satisfied  his  desire  for  a  sight 
of  the  mighty  ocean.  After  making  inquiries  concerning 
the  departure  of  vessels  for  New  York,  he  returned  to 
his  lodgings  and,  according  to  custom,  spent  a  part 
of  the  evening  recording  in  his  journal  the  events  of  the 
day. 

"  My  situation  here  at  Havre  is  beset  with  difficulties. 
With  my  imperfect  knowledge  of  both  French  and  Eng- 
lish, I  am  likely  to  be  imposed  upon,  and  even  a  small 
loss  is  more  than  I  can  afford  just  now.  I  saw  the  ocean 
to-day  for  the  first  time.  It  is  not  exactly  what  I  im- 
agined. O  my  God,  will  this  voyage  of  mine  end  suc- 
cessfully? I  saw  the  vessel  in  which  very  probably  I 
shall  embark  for  New  York.  The  thought  of  travelling 


Departure  from  Home.  137 

alone,  without  an  acquaintance  or  friend,  is  not  very 
cheering.  But  why  this  fear,  as  if  there  were  no  God! 
But  I  am  not  worthy  of  His  protection.  Be  at  peace,  O 
my  soul!  To-morrow  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  Holy 
Communion  will  again  strengthen  thy  weakness.  I  will 
try  to  spend  the  whole  of  the  forenoon  in  church  to- 
morrow, and  in  the  afternoon  I  will  make  inquiries  about 
my  voyage,  etc.  O  God,  be  Thou  my  guide,  my  inter- 
preter. Remember  that  my  undertaking  pertains  to 
Thy  glory.  For  two  days  I  have  been  prevented  from 
saying  my  Office,  but  I  will  now  resume  it." 

Next  day,  after  a  long  search,  Neumann  found  the 
ship  Europa.  The  price  of  passage-tickets  ranged  from 
ninety  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  francs.  This  piece  of 
information  greatly  relieved  our  young  traveller's  mind, 
as  he  still  had  funds  enough  to  cover  his  expenses.  A 
letter  from  Rev.  Father  Schaefer,  who  was  still  in  Paris, 
came  most  opportunely  about  the  same  time,  and  con- 
tributed largely  to  his  satisfaction.  It  contained  a  check 
for  his  baggage,  which  was  being  forwarded  to  him  from 
Paris.  His  journal  says: 

"  Father  Schaefer's  truly  fraternal  letter  came  like  a 
gleam  of  sunshine.  My  God,  reward  this  good  man  who 
has  shown  me  so  much  kindness!  He  is  the  only  one  in 
France  who  seemed  to  take  an  interest  in  me,  and  he 
has  shown  it  even  beyond  his  means.  May  God  reward 
him  in  heaven!" 

Neumann's  stay  at  Havre  was  far  from  pleasant. 
Every  day  brought  him  some  new  trouble.  On  April 
8th  he  writes:  "  My  spirits  ran  unusually  low  to-day. 
My  boots  are  nearly  worn  out;  the  weather  is  rainy;  the 
prospect  of  remaining  here  till  the  i6th  and  even  longer 
— all  this  depressed  me.  I  became  almost  home-sick. 
But  I  offered  all  to  God;  I  prayed,  and  my  sadness  was 
somewhat  dissipated.  Our  table  is  in  style,  but  for  the 
future  I  will  only  breakfast  here.  Bread,  with  the  addi- 
tion of  butter,  perhaps,  will  satisfy  me  for  dinner.  Could 


138  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann, 

I  go  aboard  ship  at  once,  I  would  do  so;  but  I  hardly 
think  that  would  be  allowed.  God  seems  to  ordain 
that,  like  Gideon,  I  should  be  deprived  of  all  natural 
succor,  that  His  divine  power  may  be  more  strikingly 
manifested  in  me.  I  shall,  however,  try  what  I  can  do, 
and  if  not  successful  I  must  be  resigned  to  the  will  of 
God.  In  the  morning  I  shall  communicate,  that  in  this 
'  Haven  of  Grace  '  I  may  find  much  grace.  My  God,  this 
poor  heart  of  mine  yearns  for  home  to-day.  What  are 
my  loved  ones,  my  parents,  my  brother,  my  sisters,  now 
doing?  Ah!  they  often  anxiously  think  of  me.  I  will 
write  to-morrow  and  try  to  console  them.  O  my  God, 
lay  my  parents'  sorrow  on  me!  Give  them  peace  now 
in  their  old  age.  Oh,  how  I  love  them!  My  God,  have 
mercy  on  us  all!  Grant  us  to  meet  again  in  heaven  and, 
with  no  fear  of  parting,  to  be  happy  with  Thee  for  all 
eternity!  The  loss  of  my  ivory  crucifix,  and  portfolio 
containing  relics,  has  cost  me  tears  to-day;  they  were 
my  dear  treasures.  Now  I  am  poor  indeed.  I  had  no 
idea  how  near  they  were  to  my  heart.  O  Jesus,  I  de- 
plore their  loss!  P 's  leaflet;  the  blood  of  the  Cochin- 

China  martyr;  the  scrap  of  linen  belonging  to  Blessed 
Electa,  etc.,  etc. — all  gone!  Ah,  my  Jesus!  I  did  not  deserve 
to  possess  those  sweet  mementos.  Thou  shalt  have  the 
love  I  once  bestowed  upon  them.  Help  me  to  persevere 
in  good,  to  be  humble,  courageous,  meek,  pious,  holy!" 

Thus  did  Neumann  spend  those  tedious  days  in 
Havre,  praying,  communicating,  visiting  the  churches, 
and  pouring  out  his  whole  soul  to  God.  At  last,  to  his 
great  joy,  he  was  told  that  the  moment  of  departure 
would  soon  arrive.  Urged  by  his  eager  desire  to  reach 
the  land  of  his  hopes,  the  scene  of  his  future  labors  in 
God's  service,  he  let  no  day  pass  without  inquiries  re- 
specting the  vessels  bound  for  America.  In  answer  to 
his  questioning,  he  learned  that  besides  the  ship  Europa 
there  were  two  smaller  vessels,  the  Sully  and  the  Troy, 
to  sail  about  the  same  time  as  the  first-named,  and  for 


Departure  from  Home.  139 

the  same  destination.  This  circumstance  had  the  effect 
of  lowering  the  Europa's  tickets,  and  allowed  young 
Neumann  to  secure  for  himself  a  second-class  passage. 
April  1 2th  was  the  day  fixed  for  departure,  and  on  the 
eve  we  find  the  following  remarks  in  that  fruitful  source 
from  which  we  have  drawn  so  largely  for  the  foregoing 
pages: 

"My  Jesus,  I  recognize  this  favor  as  coming  from 
Thee  !  Thou  hast  heard  my  request;  Thou  hast  granted 
my  prayer.  Oh,  how  I  may  now  rejoice  !  Mayest  Thou 
be  forever  praised  !  After  so  many  struggles,  I  am  again 
at  peace.  O  Jesus,  I  will  never  forget  Thee,  since  Thou 
hast  so  graciously  remembered  me  !  Bless  my  enter- 
prise !  May  it  tend  to  Thy  greater  glory  !  My  soul  is 
full  of  joy.  I  will  bless  Thee,  O  Lord,  all  the  rest  of  my 
days  !  To-morrow  I  shall  inform  my  parents  and  Father 
Dichtl  of  my  success  thus  far.  They,  too,  will  rejoice. 
They,  too,  will  praise  Thee,  O  my  Jesus  !  Now  I  must 
see  to  having  my  baggage  conveyed  to  the  vessel,  on 
which  I  am  to  embark  to-morrow.  Lord  Jesus,  stay 
with  me,  assist  me,  grant  me  success  !  Ah,  I  must  be 
diligent  in  my  project,  since  the  Lord  blesses  my  plans  ! 
O  Jesus,  remain  with  me,  and  grant  me  ever  to  remain 
with  Thee  !" 

Contrary  to  expectation,  the  Europa  did  not  sail  till 
the  2oth,  eight  days  later  than  previously  arranged. 
Those  eight  days,  as  we  may  readily  conjecture  from  the 
past,  were  not  blanks  in  the  life  of  our  pious  young 
student.  The  weariness  of  delay  he  relieved  by  prayer 
and  good  works.  Day  followed  day,  and  finally  the 
morning  of  the  2oth  dawned.  For  the  last  time  in  many 
years  he  had  the  happiness  to  receive  Holy  Communion 
on  the  soil  of  the  Old  World.  Noon  brought  the  long- 
sighed-for  signal;  the  Europa  weighed  anchor  and  stood 
out  for  sea,  bearing  with  her  under  the  guiding  hand  of 
God  one  who  was  to  be,  at  a  later  period,  one  of  the 
brightest  and  holiest  ornaments  of  the  American  hier- 


140  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

archy — John  Nepomucene  Neumann.  Nineteen  years 
later  we  shall  find  him  returning  to  his  native  land 
under  circumstances  very  different  from  those  that  sur- 
rounded his  lonely  and  unnoticed  departure,  though  the 
heart  beating  under  the  pectoral  cross  remained  un- 
changed. It  was  still  the  humble,  devoted  heart  in  love 
witli  that  God  for  whose  honor  and  glory  alone  it 
throbbed. 


Voyage  to  the  New   World.  141 


CHAPTER  IX. 
Voyage  to  the  New  World. 

AT  last,  after  the  numerous  difficulties  and  multiplied 
disappointments  above  recorded,  sufficient  it  might 
seem  to  daunt  the  bravest  heart,  Neumann  found  him- 
self on  board  a  vessel  bound  for  the  New  World.  What 
cared  he  that,  among  the  multitudes  hurrying  to  and  fro, 
not  one  familiar  face  met  his  anxious  gaze;  that  most  of 
his  fellow-passengers  were  of  the  humblest  walks  of  life; 
that  of  the  two  hundred  German  emigrants  most  of 
them  were  Protestants,  some  from  Berne  in  Switzerland, 
others  from  Alsace,  Lorraine,  and  Baden  ?  The  love  of 
God  that  glowed  in  his  heart,  that  animated  his  every 
action,  that  nerved  him  to  set  out  alone,  friendless  and 
almost  penniless,  in  answer  to  the  voice  that  called, 
ignored  all  such  considerations.  God,  and  God  alone, 
was  the  end,  the  object  of  all  his  desires,  in  comparison 
of  whose  attainment  all  things  else  sank  into  insignifi- 
cance. Forty  long  days  did  that  voyage  last.  We  must 
remember  it  was  in  the  year  1836;  and  not  till  two  years 
later,  1838,  did  steamships  make  regular  passages  across 
the  Atlantic.  Then  the  Sirius  and  the  Great  Western 
began  to  run  between  London  and  Bristol  and  New  York. 
Each  day  of  this  long  ocean-trip  was  duly  recorded  by 
Neumann.  Four  days  of  storm  greatly  retarded  their 
progress,  as  the  ship  was  driven  back  by  adverse  winds. 
Neumann  suffered  only  slightly  from  sea-sickness;  after 
the  first  three  days  he  was  wholly  free  from  its  attacks. 
During  one  of  the  storms  above  alluded  to  his  life  was 
saved  in  a  truly  providential  manner.  The  time  not 
spent  in  his  devotions,  which,  as  we  know,  were  many, 


142  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

was  devoted  to  study  and  reading,  or  in  musing  upon 
the  designs  of  Divine  Providence  in  his  regard.  One 
day  the  storm  raged  so  fiercely  as  to  drive  the  passengers 
below  deck.  Neumann,  absorbed  in  anxious  specula- 
tions on  his  uncertain  future,  alone  remained  above. 
Lost  in  thought,  he  took  no  heed  of  the  rolling  billows 
and  the  tossing  ship  now  rising,  now  sinking  on  the 
foaming  waves.  Suddenly  he  started  as  if  touched  by 
an  invisible  hand,  and  lo  !  scarcely  had  he  stepped  for- 
ward, when  with  a  terrible  crash  down  came  the  sailyard 
upon  the  very  spot  on  which  he  had  stood  one  -instant 
before  !  That  moment  witnessed  Neumann's  uncondi- 
tional surrender  of  himself  into  the  hands  of  Divine 
Providence.  Long  years  after  he  loved  to  revert  to 
this  incident  as  to  the  one  which  awakened  in  his  soul 
unbounded  confidence  in  the  paternal  protection  of  Al- 
mighty God. 

Some  days  later  a  change  of  atmosphere  betokened 
the  vicinity  of  icebergs,  and  on  the  following  morning 
Neumann  gazed  in  admiring  wonder  on  those  floating 
mountains  of  glittering  crystal.  Again  did  he  raise  his 
soul  in  gratitude  to  God  for  averting  from  himself  and- 
his  fellow-voyagers  this  formidable  danger.  In  all  that 
met  his  eye,  the  ocean's  broad  expanse,  now  rising  and 
swelling  in  mighty  billows  that  threatened  destruction 
to  the  huge  vessel  riding  on  its  waves,  now  reposing  like 
some  potent  monster  in  the  proud  consciousness  of  its 
own  strength,  the  never-ending  sky  lit  up  by  the  dazzling 
rays  of  the  noonday  sun,  or  anon  wrapped  in  angry,  low- 
ering clouds,  or  sparkling  at  night  with  myriads  of  glow- 
ing gems  whose  scintillations  were  mirrored  in  the  waters 
beneath — all,  all  spoke  to  our  hero's  loving  heart  of  the 
omnipotence,  the  wisdom,  the  goodness  of  God.  "  My 
God!"  he  cries  out,  "how  great  Thou  art,  how  wonder- 
ful in  all  Thy  works!  Ah,  what  graces  hast  Thou  not 
heaped  upon  me  since  I  left  my  native  shores!  Speak 
to  me,  my  God;  let  me  know  Thy  will;  for  behold  me 


Voyage  to  the  New    World.  143 

ready  to  fulfil  Thy  every  command!  The  difficult,  the 
irksome,  I  will  patiently  endure  for  love  of  Thee.  Be- 
hold me  in  Thy  hands!  My  heart  exults  in  the  manifes- 
tations of  Thy  power.  O  dearest  Infant  Jesus,  what  joy 
to  contemplate  Thy  infinite  greatness!  O  dearest  Child, 
Thy  tiny  hands  have  hollowed  out  the  ocean's  vast 
abyss!" 

A  weary  calm  of  several  days,  at  another  time,  retarded 
our  voyager's  progress.  Neumann  remarks:  "A  calm 
of  three  days  has  kept  us  back.  Here  we  lie  on  the 
waves,  neither  advancing  nor  receding;  meanwhile  our 
provisions  are  getting  low.  Alas,  my  God!  is  it  not  thus 
with  my  poor  soul?  Thanks  to  Thy  grace,  I  fear  sin; 
but  how  is  it  with  regard  to  my  progress  in  the  spiritual 
life  ?  Lord,  have  mercy  on  me!  I  am  spending  the 
precious  time  which  should  be  consumed  in  Thy  service 
in  doing  absolutely  nothing.  I  would  like,  on  reaching 
America,  to  devote  myself,  at  least  for  a  while,  to  the  care 
of  the  sick,  or  rather  to  God  in  the  person  of  the  sick. 
It  seems  highly  improbable  that  I  shall  be  received 
into  the  diocese  of  New  York.  Still,  my  Jesus,  I  am  in 
peace;  nay,  I  even  rejoice  in  the  anticipation  of  suffer- 
ings. They  will,  doubtless,  procure  for  me  many  graces. 
Humble  me,  purify  me  more  and  more,  that  Thou,  my 
Lord  and  my  God,  mayest  find  an  acceptable  resting- 
place  in  my  heart." 

Again  he  writes:  "This  is  the  third  of  the  rogation- 
days.  Oh,  what  a  consoling  thought!  Were  I  at  home, 
how  joyfully  would  I  not  assist  at  the  processions  of  this 
day  and  supplicate  Thee,  my  God,  to  bless  the  fruits  of 
the  earth!  But  now  it  is  Thy  holy  will  that  I  should  be 
cut  off  from  all  such  consolations;  that  I  should  live,  as  I 
hope  to  die,  only  for  Thee.  I  offer  Thee,  dear  God,  as  a 
substitute  for  those  processions,  my  sufferings,  my  mis- 
ery, my  loneliness." 

"  Feast  of  the  Ascension. — O  holy  day  of  my  Lord's 
ascension,  thou  art  welcome!  The  thought  that  my 


144  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Jesus  has  left  our  earth  has  moved  me  to  tears.  Yes- 
terday and  to-day  I  made  many  good  resolutions  for 
my  future.  God  gave  me,  also,  an  opportunity  of  prac- 
tising humility  under  contempt  and  insult.  I  bore  it 
patiently,  though  with  violence  to  my  feelings." 

The  gentle,  retiring,  and  religious  demeanor  of  the 
young  traveller,  so  different  from  all  around  him,  did  not 
fail  to  attract  the  attention  of  his  fellow-voyagers,  who 
sometimes  greeted  him,  in  consequence,  with  derisive 
laughter  and  cutting  remarks.  To  this  he  seems  to  al- 
lude in  the  sentences  just  quoted. 

"I  have  learned  by  experience,"  he  continues,  "that 
the  daily  reading  of  '  Philothea'  is  a  powerful  means  of 
fostering  devotion.  It  renders  the  practice  of  virtue 
easy.  Give  Thyself  to  me,  O  dearest  little  Jesus,  and 
give  me,  also,  Thy  most  amiable  Mother!" 

"  Pentecost. — My  wants  here  at  sea  are  easily  satisfied; 
but  if,  on  reaching  New  York,  I  shall  have  to  continue 
my  journey,  uncertain  whither  to  turn,  I  fear  my  courage 
will  fail.  If  not  received  in  any  diocese  of  America,  I 
shall  seek  a  hermitage  in  some  vast  forest,  or  on  some 
plain.  There,  my  God,  if  it  be  Thy  will,  I  shall  serve 
Thee  alone  and  do  penance  for  my  own  and  others'  sins. 
Oh,  how  greatly  would  not  such  a  life  contribute  to  my 
spiritual  good!  My  God,  permit  it  to  me,  and  teach  me 
the  best  way  of  setting  about  it!  Mary,  my  guardian 
angel,  my  holy  patrons,  all  ye  saints  of  heaven,  pray  for 
me!" 

On  the  Monday  after  Pentecost,  Neumann  was  quite 
sick,  the  effect  of  a  sudden  change  of  temperature.  It 
was  not,  however,  a  very  serious  indisposition,  for  we 
again  find  him  using  his  pen:  "Though  sick,  yet  I  feel 
somewhat  more  disposed  to  piety.  My  sufferings  should 
be  pleasing  to  me,  dear  Jesus,  since  they  afford  me  a 
chance  of  practising  patience.  From  the  quantity  of 
sea-weed  we  saw  yesterday  we  may  conclude  that  land 
is  near.  Soon,  O  Jesus,  the  dreaded  voyage  will  be 


Voyage  to  the  New   World.  145 

accomplished.  What  happiness  for  me!  Whether  I 
shall  become  a  priest  or  not,  I  shall  now  have  hourly  op- 
portunities to  atone  for  my  sins.  Oh,  how  have  I  deserved 
such  a  favor  ! — I  who  have  so  often  rejected  Thy  graces! 
My  fancy  loves  to  dwell  upon  the  solitary  life  I  purpose 
leading,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  that  I  should  not  be 
ordained.  This  question  will  soon  be  decided.  Con- 
fiding in  Thee,  dearest  Infant  Jesus,  I  dread  not  the  fu- 
ture. My  Lord,  my  God,  what  am  I  doing  ?  Am  I  not 
pondering  too  much  on  the  future,  which  is  still  beyond 
my  grasp,  and  too  little  on  my  present  opportunities  of 
perfecting  myself  by  the  practice  of  virtue  ?  O  God, 
grant  that  I  may  soon  purify  my  troubled  conscience  by 
a  good  confession  and  regain  my  strength  of  soul  in  Holy 
Communion!" 

On  the  eve  of  Trinity  Sunday  a  light  fog  partly  ob- 
scured the  horizon,  through  which  the  crew  of  the  Europa 
caught  their  first  glimpse  of  the  New  World.  Twenty- 
four  hours  later,  Trinity  Sunday  evening,  the  ship  an- 
chored at  quarantine,  about  three  miles  below  Staten 
Island.  What  were  now  the  feelings  of  those  weary 
voyagers,  for  forty  long  days  and  nights  beaten  about 
by  the  winds  and  waves!  What,  above  all,  were  young 
Neumann's  emotions  on  finding  himself  after  so  many 
struggles,  so  many  disappointments,  at  the  term  for 
which  he  had  so  ardently  sighed!  But  fresh  obstacles, 
new  delays,  were  in  store  for  him  before  setting  foot  on 
those  far-famed  shores.  On  the  eve  of  Corpus  Christi 
he  writes: 

"  Since  Trinity  Sunday  we  have  lain  at  anchor  within 
sight  of  New  York.  O  my  God,  with  Thy  assistance  so 
near  to  my  destination,  and  yet  with  so  little  hope,  so 
little  consolation!  I  tried  at  least  six  times  to-day  to 
find  some  means  of  reaching  the  island,  whence  I  might 
cross  over  to  the  city  by  steamboat.  I  am  so  anxious  to 
celebrate  in  church  the  great  love-feast  of  my  Redeemer 
to-morrow.  I  could  have  spent  the  night  praying  in  the 


146  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

open  air.  But  all  my  attempts,  my  entreaties,  were  vain. 
My  God,  why  hast  Thou  forsaken  me  ?  O  my  soul,  thou 
of  little  faith!  Poor  and  friendless,  I  will  present  my- 
self to  Thy  Bishop,  dear  Lord.  His  heart  is  in  Thy 
hands.  Thou  art  the  Almighty  God;  do  Thou  incline 
that  heart  to  Thy  own  glory,  to  my  good  and  that  of  my 
dear  family!  Alas,  I  am  not  wise;  I  know  not  what  is 
profitable  to  me!  Graciously  accept  the  sacrifice  of  my 
resignation!  Ah!  I  know  well  that  no  one  is  less  worthy 
than  I  to  enter  that  land  in  which  I  am  resolved  to  serve 
Thee.  Still  the  desire  to  land  haunts  me.  The  captain's 
knavery  incenses  me,  and  the  incessant  humiliations  to 
which  I  am  subjected  almost  crush  me.  My  Jesus, 
behold  the  burden  that  rests  upon  me!  My  loved  par- 
ents, my  brother  and  sisters,  the  priesthood,  worldly 
honors,  ease  —  all  these  I  have  renounced  for  Jesus 
Christ.  What  will  my  future  be  ?  What  is  in  store  for 
me?" 

Neumann's  first  letter  from  America  describes  his  own 
feelings  and  those  of  his  fellow-voyagers  at  the  sight  of 
land  and  the  city  of  New  York  : 

"  How  grateful  to  the  eye,  after  a  long  voyage,  is  the 
sight  of  land  !  The  sensation  is  indescribable  ;  it  must 
be  experienced  to  be  understood.  Forty  days  after  our 
departure  from  Havre  we  hailed  land.  Oh,  the  glad 
sight!  In  spite  of  the  drenching  rain,  we  stood  on 
deck  as  long  as  the  waning  light  permitted  anything 
to  be  seen.  We  gazed  with  delight  on  the  charming 
green  banks  dotted  with  light  red  houses  and  gayly 
painted  cottages.  They  produce  a  most  pleasing  effect. 
All  hands,  even  the  poor  sick,  came  up  on  deck,  for- 
getful of  suffering  and  hardship.  Some  shouted  for 
joy,  some  sang  snatches  of  song,  all  were  jubilant  at 
the  thought  of  setting  foot  on  land  once  more.  Oh, 
what  happiness  must  inundate  the  heart  of  the  just 
man  when,  stretched  on  his  dying  bed,  he  sees  the  end 
of  his  trials  and  miseries  approaching,  and  heaven,  the 


Voyage  to  the  New    World.  147 

land  of  his  desires  and  affections,  opening  out  before 
him  ! 

"  But  our  joy  was  soon  checked.  The  captain  an- 
nounced that,  owing  to  the  unfavorable  wind  and  the 
presence  of  sickness  on  board,  we  would  have  to  remain 
at  sea  some  days  longer,  perhaps  even  a  whole  week. 
Most  unwelcome  news  was  this,  as  the  water  for  drink- 
ing had  grown  offensive,  and  provisions  were  becoming 
scarce." 

Neumann's  eagerness  to  reach  land  induced  him  to 
apply  once  more  to  the  captain.  The  latter,  overcome 
by  the  young  man's  earnestness,  consented  at  last  to 
having  him  conveyed  next  morning  to  Staten  Island. 
Eleven  o'clock  next  day,  the  Feast  of  Corpus  Christi, 
saw  the  promise  redeemed,  and  Neumann  landed  on  the 
island,  whence  by  steamboat  he  reached  New  York  about 

I  P.M. 

"  What  emotions  were  mine  at  that  moment,"  he  goes 
on  to  say  in  his  letter,  "you  can  imagine.  My  first  care 
was  to  hunt  up  a  Catholic  church.  The  rain  fell  in  tor- 
rents. Up  one  street,  down  another ;  but  no  Catholic 
church  could  I  find,  though  I  searched  till  evening.  I 
indeed  came  across  numberless  meeting-houses,  but 
nowhere  what  I  sought.  I  had  to  call  all  my  philologi- 
cal skill  into  play  to  decipher  the  inscriptions  on  those 
edifices  informing  the  passer-by  to  what  particular  sect 
they  belonged.  One  had  only  a  plain  flat  roof;  another 
was  surmounted  by  a  vane  ;  a  third  had  a  cross,  above 
which  turned  a  weather-cock.  The  devil,  I  thought, 
may  array  himself  in  fine  garments,  but  the  cloven  foot 
will  be  sure  to  appear.  These  places  of  worship  were 
all  locked  ;  only  from  one,  a  Wesleyan  meeting-house, 
did  I  see  several  men  coming  out,  their  hats  on  and 
each  with  a  cigar  in  his  mouth.  My  search  was  fruit- 
less, and  at  last  I  turned  to  look  for  lodgings  at  an  inn 
kept  by  a  Swiss.  Next  morning  my  host  pointed  out 
the  direction  to  the  nearest  Catholic  church.  I  soon 


1 48  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

reached  it,  and  recognized  it  by  its  simple  cross.  It  was 
a  church  for  English-speaking  Catholics.  There  I  re- 
ceived the  address  of  the  Right  Reverend  Bishop  and 
the  German  pastor  who  lives  with  him.  An  hour  later 
I  arrived  at  the  Cathedral,  where  the  first  one  I  met  was 
Rev.  Father  Raffeiner.  He  showed  the  greatest  aston- 
ishment at  my  unexpected  appearance.  He  informed 
me  that  Dr.  Rass  had  applied  for  my  admission  into  the 
diocese  ;  that  I  had  been  accepted  three  weeks  before, 
and  a  letter  to  that  effect  despatched  to  Europe.  Father 
Raffeiner  then  took  me  to  Bishop  Dubois,  who,  in  his 
surprise  and  joy,  knew  not  whether  to  welcome  me  in 
Latin,  French,  or  English.  After  examining  my  testi- 
monials, he  repeated  that  I  had  been  accepted,  but  that 
he  had  expected  several  theological  students,  and  he 
very  much  regretted  their  not  having  come  with  me. 
He  added  that  his  need  of  a  German  priest  was  so  great 
that  he  was  on  the  point  of  sending  to  Philadelphia  for 
one.  He  promised  to  ordain  me  on  his  return  from  his 
pastoral  visitation,  which  had  already  been  mapped  out. 
Though  eighty  years  of  age,  he  never  omits  his  duty." 

The  emotions  that  now  held  sway  in  young  Neu- 
mann's heart  on  this  happy  fulfilment  of  his  long-cher- 
ished desires  we  must  leave  to  his  own  pen  to  depict. 
In  his  usual  childlike  manner  he  turns  to  God,  the  Au- 
thor of  all  his  success  : 

"  Thanks,  a  thousand  thanks  to  Thee,  my  Jesus,  for 
having  prepared  a  place  for  me  in  Thy  sanctuary.  Now 
free  from  anxiety,  I  can  enter  into  myself.  This  I  do 
the  more  gladly  as  I  know  it  to  be  my  duty.  Oh,  what 
emotions  were  mine  when,  on  the  Feast  of  Corpus 
Christi,  I  set  foot  on  American  soil  !  I  felt  interiorly 
urged  to  look  for  a  church.  I  wandered  about  in  the 
rain  till  evening,  but  in  vain.  The  next  morning  I  met 
Father  Raffeiner.  My  God,  how  can  I  thank  Thee  for 
Thy  goodness  in  sending  me  to  so  paternal,  so  pious  a 
man !  Here  I  am  at  last !  Doubt  and  uncertainty  have 


Voyage  to  the  New    World.  149 

vanished  like  mist  before  the  rays  of  the  sun.  I  may 
now  look  forward  with  confidence  to  the  speedy  attain- 
ment of  my  hopes.  Silently,  O  my  Jesus,  silently  but 
surely  hast  Thou  disentangled  the  knot  which  once  ap- 
peared to  me  so  difficult.  Three  weeks  even  before  my 
arrival  here  was  my  reception  agreed  upon.  Very  likely 
my  friends  have  been  apprised  of  it  by  this  time.  Oh, 
what  an  apostolic  man  is  our  Bishop  !  Whenever  I  think 
of  him,  St.  John  the  Evangelist  rises  up  before  me.  My 
God,  I  am  seized  with  fear  when  I  consider  the  sanctity 
of  the  office  that  awaits  me  and  compare  with  it  my 
own  unworthiness.  Lord,  punish  me  not  in  Thy  anger! 
Take  from  me  the  burden,  or,  dear  Lord,  increase  my 
strength  and  faith,  my  hope  and  charity,  a  thousand- 
fold! Enkindle  in  my  heart  charity  toward  my  neigh- 
bor. In  such  sentiments  I  would  be  willing  to  die  ;  I 
would  not  care  what  might  happen  to  me.  Oh,  joyful 
thought!  now  I  shall  really  be  Thy  servant ;  now  I  shall 
be  able  to  receive  Thee,  my  Jesus,  often,  often!  O 
Jesus,  I  must  henceforth  labor  for  the  salvation  of 
others.  Do  Thou  strengthen  my  weakness  !  Be  Thou 
forever  praised,  dearest  Jesus,  my  Lord  and  my  God! 
Behold,  my  life,  my  strength,  my  whole  being,  all  that 
I  have,  all  that  I  am,  I  devote  to  Thy  greater  glory." 


PART  II. 

JOHN    N.    NEUMANN   AS   A   SECULAR   PRIEST. 
1836-1840. 


CHAPTER  I. 

John  Neumann  is  Raised  to  the   Dignity  of  the 
Priesthood. 

/'""'CANDIDATES  for  holy  orders  are,  as  a  general 
V_>  thing,  allowed  several  days  of  retreat  in  prepara- 
tion for  the  worthy  reception  of  the  Sacrament.  During 
those  days  an  experienced  director  superintends  their 
exercises  and  imparts  to  them  a  practical  knowledge  of 
the  various  ceremonies  of  the  Church.  This  privilege, 
so  grateful  to  a  soul  seeking  God,  was  not  to  fall  to  John 
Neumann's  share.  Circumstances  arising  from  the  im- 
perative demand  for  a  German  pastor  did  not  permit 
him  such  an  advantage.  Father  Raffeiner  lost  no  time 
in  charging  young  Neumann  with  the  duty  of  giving 
regular  instructions  in  Christian  Doctrine  to  the  Ger- 
man congregation  of  St.  Nicholas'  Church,  and  of  cate- 
chising the  children  of  the  school  in  preparation  for 
their  First  Communion,  which  duties  were  most  cheer- 
fully and  zealously  performed.  No  assistance  that  he 
could  possibly  render  his  neighbor  was  ever  withheld  by 
our  pious  student.  To  prepare  young  souls  for  the 
worthy  reception  of  Holy  Communion,  and  to  awaken  in 


Raised  to  the  Dignity  of  the  Priesthood.    151 

them  the  liveliest  devotion  toward  the  Most  Blessed 
Sacrament,  were  his  greatest  delight.  He  frequently 
declared  it  his  conviction  that  a  subsequent  virtuous  or 
vicious  life  depends  upon  a  worthy  or  an  unworthy  First 
Communion.  His  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  little  ones  en- 
trusted to  his  care  were  always  accompanied  by  fervent 
petitions  to  Heaven  imploring  grace  for  them.  "  Jesus, 
Thou  Friend  of  children,"  he  would  exclaim,  "have 
mercy  on  these  poor  little  ones  whom  I  am  preparing  for 
Thy  Banquet  of  love  !" 

On  June  19,  1836,  in  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral,  Neumann 
received,  from  the  hands  of  Bishop  Dubois,  the  first  of 
the  holy  orders,  that  of  subdeacon.  How  devoutly  and 
earnestly  he  prepared  for  its  reception  we  may  gather 
from  his  own  words  recorded  that  same  evening  in  his 
journal: 

"  O  my  Jesus,  how  I  glory  in  belonging  to  Thee  !  how 
I  glory  in  being  Thine,  in  possessing  Thee  without  re- 
serve !  Yesterday  Thou  didst  pardon  me  my  sins,  and 
to-day — be  Thou  eternally  praised  ! — Thou  didst  not  only 
visit  me,  but  Thou  didst  also  confer  upon  me  the  sacred 
order  of  subdeaconship.  O  Lord,  Thou  hast  graciously 
accepted  the  vow  of  perpetual  chastity  which  Thy  Holy 
Church  requires  of  me,  and  which  I  most  gladly  make 
to  Thee.  O  Jesus,  I  promise,  with  all  my  heart,  to  obey 
Thee  in  the  person  of  Thy  pastor,  in  simplicity,  in  love, 
and  in  veneration.  I  will  love  Thy  Church.  She  is  now 
my  spouse,  since  I  have  bid  farewell  to  the  world;  and  I 
will  serve  her  because  she  is  Thy  spouse,  O  my  Divine 
Affianced  !  Thou  hast  wedded  her  by  Thy  sacred  Incar- 
nation, purified  and  sanctified  her  by  Thy  holy  doctrine, 
Thy  life,  and  Thy  bitter  Passion,  that,  stainless,  she  may 
be  like  unto  Thee,  my  dearest  Lord.  O  my  Jesus,  Thou 
hast  received  me,  a  most  miserable  sinner;  Thou  hast 
graciously  admitted  me  to  the  service  of  Thy  Church. 
Oh,  draw  me  powerfully  to  Thy  holy  Cross,  that  I,  too, 
may  become  pure  and  pious  and  holy;  that,  as  a  de- 


152  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

voted  servant  of  Thy  holy  Church,  I  may  walk  without 
blemish  before  Thee  and  before  men  in  the  way  of  Thy 
Commandments  !  Thy  death,  O  Jesus,  has  made  all 
men  my  brethren.  Come  Thou,  O  Holy  Ghost,  come 
Thou  upon  me,  a  wretched  sinner,  that,  placed  on  the 
candlestick  by  the  unfathomable  decrees  of  Thy  mercy, 
I  may  show  forth  to  the  world  the  way  of  eternal  salva- 
tion !  Grant  me,  O  Thou  the  Light  of  souls,  not  only 
to  teach  Thy  holy  Word  to  others,  but  do  Thou  come 
upon  me,  Thou  Strength  of  the  weak,  that  my  life  and 
my  works  may  exhibit  faith  made  fruitful  by  Thy  grace! 
I  shall  be  ordained  under  the  title  of  the  American 
Missions;  my  conduct  must  henceforth  be  a  living  ex- 
pression of  my  gratitude.  Until  my  final  ordination,  I 
will  remain,  as  much  as  possible,  in  retirement  and 
prayer.  I  shall  map  out  my  future  in  accordance  with 
the  rules  of  St.  Francis  de  Sales.  O  Holy  Spirit,  direct 
me  in  all  my  ways  !  To-day  or  to-morrow  I  must  write 
to  my  loved  parents.  They  will  rejoice  with  me,  and 
thank  Thee,  the  Giver  of  all  good  gifts.  Oh,  what  joy 
will  not  my  letter  give  the  Reverend  Dean  !" 

On  the  following  day  he  again  gives  vent  to  the  holy 
emotion  of  his  soul  in  such  words  as  these : 

"  The  order  of  subdeacon  has  exerted  an  extraordi- 
narily beneficial  influence  upon  my  soul.  I  am  now  sep- 
arated from  the  world:  and  what  could  be  more  salutary 
to  sinful  man  ?  The  reception  of  this  order  has  filled 
me  with  courage,  increased  my  confidence  in  God,  and 
inflamed  my  love  for  Him.  The  Divine  Office  is 
now  of  obligation  for  me,  and  I  am  released  from  the 
vow  made  at  Nancy.  O  Jesus,  I  promised  Thee  yester- 
day to  say  the  Rosary  every  day  in  honor  of  Thy  dear- 
est Mother,  my  mediatrix,  to  secure  her  assistance  in  the 
discharge  of  my  duties,  and  to  beg  her  protection  over 
my  dear  ones  at  home.  To-day  I  renew  this  vow. 
Grant  me  ever,  O  my  God,  Thy  holy  grace  !" 

As  the  time  for  Neumann's  final  ordination  and  first 


Raised  to  the  Dignity  of  the  Priesthood.    153 

Mass  drew  near,  the  more  ardent  became  his  familiar 
colloquies  with  his  Lord  and  Saviour. 

"  June  23d. — My  Jesus,  I  know  not  how  to  spend  this 
day,  the  eve  of  that  on  which  I  shall  receive  the  great 
Sacrament !  My  God,  what  shall  I  do  ?  Ah  !  nothing 
else  than  remain  here  by  Thy  lowly  but  glorious  Crib, 
near  to  Thy  delightful  Banquet,  by  Thy  holy  Cross.  Ah, 
how  confused  is  my  poor  soul  before  Thee  !  My  God, 
how  couldst  Thou  love  us  so  much  ?  Alas  !  wretched 
sinner  that  I  am,  I  can  only  cast  myself  into  the  dust 
before  Thee !  With  the  Blessed  Virgin  Thy  Mother, 
and  with  St.  Joseph,  I  kneel  at  Thy  Crib  to  weep  over 
my  sins  and  to  supplicate  Thy  grace.  Oh,  how  near 
am  I  to  the  object  of  my  desires  !  Thou  art  my  All,  my 
Lord,  my  God,  and  I  shall  receive  Thee  every  day.  Oh, 
how  this  union  with  Thee  will  strengthen  me  in  good, 
will  sanctify  me  !  O  Jesus,  Thou  Searcher  of  hearts, 
Thou  seest  my  soul  inflamed  with  desires;  Thou 
knowest  how  it  longs  to  be  holy,  to  be  united  with 
Thee  !  And,  O  Holy  Ghost,  hast  Thou  not  infused  in 
my  soul  a  great  devotion  to  St.  Teresa  ?" 

On  the  following  day,  June  24th,  Feast  of  St.  John  the 
Baptist,  young  Neumann  received  deacon's  orders,  and 
on  the  next  day,  June  251!),  he  was  raised  to  the  dignity  of 
the  priesthood.  His  feelings  during  the  ceremony  we 
find  recorded  in  his  journal,  embodied  in  such  acts  of 
thanksgiving  as  the  following: 

"  At  last,  my  dearest  Jesus,  I  have  attained  to  that  for 
which  my  soul  has  so  long  sighed!  Ah,  behold  Thine 
own  work!  O  God,  I  am  amazed  at  the  grandeur  of  this 
grace,  at  my  own  high  dignity  and  its  responsibility!  O 
Jesus,  Thou  hast  conferred  upon  me  the  power  of  offer- 
ing Thee,  my  God,  to  Thyself — my  God  to  my  God! 
Oh,  far  too  high  a  privilege  for  me  !  Angels  of  God, 
ye  saints  of  heaven,  descend  upon  earth  and  adore  my 
Jesus,  for  the  stammerings  of  my  poor  heart  are  only 
imperfect  echoes  of  what  our  Holy  Church  bids  me  say! 


154  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

O  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  how  I  glory  in  exalting  Thee 
to-day!  how  I  glory  in  being  able  to  thank  Thee,  my 
Creator,  my  Redeemer,  for  Thy  three  great  gifts,  Crea- 
tion, Redemption,  and  our  Holy  Church!  O  joy  above 
all  earthly  joys,  I  am  a  member,  a  servant  of  that  same 
Holy  Church!  I  pray  Thee,  grant  to  me  and  to  all 
the  living  and  the  dead  forgiveness  and  sanctification. 
Now  I  can  efficaciously  pray  for  myself,  my  parents  and 
relations,  my  dear  friend  N.  N.,  • ,  and  for  all  in  Bohe- 
mia who  have  recommended  themselves  to  my  prayers." 
Here  follows  a  long  list  of  individuals,  confraternities, 
etc.  In  his  love  and  gratitude  he  forgot  none  with 
whom  he  had  in  any  way  been  connected;  all  mankind 
shared  in  his  prayers.  On  the  next  day,  June  26th,  he 
offered  up  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  for  the  first 
time.  It  was  a  Sunday,  and  the  day  on  which  the  Church 
celebrates  the  Feast  of  the  martyrs  John  and  Paul.  The 
young  priest,  now  Rev.  Mr.  Neumann,  sang  his  first  Mass 
in  the  German  church  of  St.  Nicholas,  Second  Street, 
New  York. 

In  a  letter  to  the  Reverend  Dean  of  his  native  place,  this 
memorable  event  in  his  opening  career  is  thus  described: 

"The  feast  was  celebrated  with  as  great  pomp  as  is 
usual  here.  Father  Raffeiner  preached  after  the  Gospel 
to  a  large  congregation  drawn  together  by  what  is  as  yet 
an  unusual  occurrence  in  these  parts,  the  celebration  of 
a  first  Mass.  I  gave  First  Communion  to  thirty  children 
whom  I  had  myself  prepared.  Oh,  how  gladly  would  I 
not  have  hailed  the  presence  of  the  various  members  of 
my  family!  With  my  whole  heart  I  prayed  for  them 
that  God's  blessing  might  descend  upon  them.  A  great 
and  unexpected  pleasure  was  mine  after  Mass.  My  little 
First  Communicants,  accompanied  by  their  parents,  called 
upon  me  to  offer  their  thanks  for  the  pains  I  had  taken 
to  instruct  them.  Before  taking  leave,  each  presented 
me  a  little  token  of  gratitude." 


Starts  for  the  Scene  of  his  Labors.      155 


CHAPTER  II. 

Rev.  Mr.  Neumann  Starts  for  the  Scene  of  his 
Future  Labors. 

RIGHT  REV.  BISHOP  DUBOIS,  even  before 
Mr.  Neumann's  arrival,  had  destined  him  for  the 
missions  around  Niagara  Falls.  He  was  now  anx- 
ious for  him  to  set  out  at  once  for  his  destination;  so 
the  third  day  after  his  first  Mass  found  Father  Neumann 
on  his  way.  Travelling  in  those  early  days  of  American 
civilization  was  not  what  it  is  in  our  own  time,  as  rail- 
roads were  few.  Father  Neumann  proceeded  by  steam- 
boat to  Albany,  where,  on  the  Feast  of  Sts.  Peter  and 
Paul,  he  offered  the  Holy  Sacrifice  in  St.  Mary's  Church. 
On  July  4th  he  reached  Rochester.  Here,  by  order  of  his 
Bishop,  he  was  to  tarry  a  few  days  in  order  to  administer 
the  consolations  of  religion  to  the  German  Catholics,  at 
that  time  without  a  pastor  of  their  own  nationality. 
The  zealous  pastor  of  St.  Patrick's,  Rev.  Bernard 
O'Reilly,  gladly  welcomed  Father  Neumann,  and  ex- 
tended to  him  the  hospitality  of  his  own  house.  He  had 
long  been  in  quest  of  a  German  priest  to  break  the  Word 
of  God  to  the  German  Catholics  of  Rochester,  and  now 
that  Divine  Providence  had  sent  one  in  answer  to  his 
heart's  desire,  great  were  his  joy  and  satisfaction.  Father 
O'Reilly  was  made  Bishop  of  Hartford,  November  10, 
1850.  Sixteen  months  later,  March  28,  1852,  he  assisted 
at  Father  Neumann's  own  consecration.  Bishop  O'Reilly 
was  one  of  the  passengers  of  the  ill-fated  steamer  Pacific 
which  was  lost  on  her  midwinter  trip  to  America,  Janu- 
ary, 1856.  The  Bishop  was  returning  from  Europe, 
whither  he  had  gone  the  previous  year  on  affairs  con- 


156  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

nected  with  his  diocese.  His  loss  was  mourned  from 
Georgia  to  Maine.  In  him  the  American  hierarchy  was 
deprived  of  one  of  its  holiest  and  most  laborious  pastors. 
No  tidings  of  the  missing  vessel  were  ever  received. 

Conversing  with  two  of  his  fellow-priests  here  in 
Rochester,  Father  Neumann  happened  to  revert  to  the 
circumstance  of  his  unsuccessful  application  for  a  writ- 
ten discharge  from  his  diocese.  His  companions  dis- 
cussed the  matter,  and  decided  that  his  ordination, 
though  valid,  yet  was  illicit.  Father  Neumann's  tender 
conscience  was  not  a  little  troubled  at  this  information; 
but  he  acted  wisely  under  the  circumstances.  He  says 
in  his  journal: 

"To-day  I  said  Mass  with  a  great  scruple.  But,  ac- 
cording to  Blessed  Liguori,  I  may  lie  tranquil,  since  no 
doubts  assailed  me  at  the  time  of  my  ordination.  Is  a 
written  discharge  really  essential?  Had  I  not  an  oral 
one  ?  As  soon  as  I  meet  either  Father  Pax  or  Father 
Prost  I  will  lay  the  case  before  him  and  abide  by  his 
decision.  Thank  God,  Blessed  Alphonsus'  'Moral  The- 
ology' does  not  condemn  me  !" 

Though  his  stay  at  Rochester  was  to  be  brief,  yet  he 
manifested  the  liveliest  interest  in  the  spiritual  welfare 
of  the  German  Catholics.  A  true  disciple  of  the  Divine 
Friend  of  childen,  Father  Neumann's  chief  care  was 
bestowed  upon  the  catechetical  instruction  of  the  little 
ones. 

"July  6. — I  began  yesterday  to  instruct  the  chil- 
dren. Things  are  in  a  sad  state.  The  poor  little  crea- 
tures have  had  few  advantages.  They  speak  both 
German  and  English  badly,  and  have  little  idea  of  reli- 
gion. From  lack  of  care  and  instruction,  many  weeds 
have  sprung  up  among  them;  and  yet  a  school  cannot 
even  be  thought  of.  O  God,  how  melancholy  is  the 
spectacle  in  this  part  of  Thy  kingdom!  Ah,  do  not 
punish  our  disobedience  to  Thy  Church  in  this  way! 
Take  not  away  the  good  seed;  suffer  not  the  spread  of 


Starts  for  the  Scene  of  his  Labors.      1 5  7 

heresy  and  infidelity!  Oh,  hearken  to  the  voice  of  Thy 
priest  weeping  over  the  sins  of  Thy  people,  suppli- 
cating pardon  and  grace  !  My  God,  forsake  us  not! 
Good  Shepherd,  permit  not  the  wolf  to  tear  Thy  sheep 
to  pieces !  Enlighten  me,  strengthen  me  with  Thy 
powerful  grace,  that  I  may  snatch  from  Satan  his  unfor- 
tunate prey,  and  lead  them  back  to  Thee." 

On  July  yth  Father  Neumann  administered  the  Sacra- 
ment of  Baptism  for  the  first  time,  which  circumstance 
the  journal  records  in  these  words:  "If  the  newly- 
baptized  child  dies  to-day,  in  the  grace  received  from 
this  holy  Sacrament,  my  journey  to  America  will  have 
been  richly  rewarded;  yes,  richly  rewarded,  even  if  in 
the  future  I  accomplish  nothing  more." 

The  Sunday  appointed  for  Father  Neumann  to  cele- 
brate divine  service  for  the  Germans  drew  near.  In  the 
humility  of  his  heart,  our  holy  young  priest  wrote:  "I 
feel  anxious,  for  to-morrow  I  shall  hear  confessions  for 
the  first  time,  and  preach  twice;  as  yet,  I  am  not  pre- 
pared. I  must  not  lose  courage,  however.  My  Jesus,  I 
am  a  worthless  instrument,  but  do  Thou  glorify  Thy 
power  and  grace,  not  only  in  me,  but  in  those,  also,  who 
will  come  to  hear  me.  O  my  God,  I  cannot  ask  Thee  to 
put  me  to  shame,  to  let  me  fail  in  my  sermon  to-morrow. 
But  I  will  resign  myself  to  Thy  will.  Put  me  to  shame, 
if  so  it  please  Thee,  but  do  not  allow  me  to  fall  into 
sin." 

One  year  previously,  in  1835,  Rev.  Father  Prost,  Visi- 
tor and  Superior  of  the  Redemptorists  in  America, 
arrived  at  Rochester  on  his  journey  from  New  York  to 
Ohio.  At  the  request  of  Rev.  Bernard  O'Reilly,  he  re- 
mained awhile  to  preach  to  the  numerous  German 
Catholics  and  hear  their  confessions.  These  good  peo- 
ple, duly  appreciating  the  benefits  of  religion,  implored 
Father  Prost  to  stay  with  them  and  assume  the  charge 
of  their  parish.  He  could  not  then  accede  to  their  pro- 
posal, but  he  promised  to  return  soon  and  make  ar- 


158  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

rangements  for  their  spiritual  good.  Shortly  after  this, 
Bishop  Dubois  formally  requested  Father  Prost  to  under- 
take the  care  of  the  German  Catholics  of  Rochester. 
Father  Prost  readily  accepted  the  charge,  and  arrived 
in  Rochester  at  the  close  of  the  same  Sunday  which  wit- 
nessed Father  Neumann's  labors  in  behalf  of  his  own 
future  parishioners,  July  10,  1836.  And  thus  Father 
Neumann  met  for  the  first  time  a  Redemptorist  Father, 
a  son  of  St.  Alphonsus.  On  Father  Prost's  invitation, 
he  remained  in  Rochester  a  few  days  longer.  Father 
Neumann  describes  his  new  friend  as  a  saintly,  amiable 
priest,  whose  acquaintance  awoke  in  him  the  first  desire 
to  enter  the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer. 

On  July  1 2th  Father  Neumann  left  Rochester,  and  ar- 
rived in  Buffalo  at  five  that  evening.  Here  he  found 
Father  Alexander  Pax,  to  whom  the  Bishop  had  directed 
him.  The  following  day,  having  celebrated  Mass  in  the 
frame  church  erected  by  the  venerable  Father  Mertz,  he 
repaired  with  Father  Pax  to  Williamsville,  about  ten 
miles  distant,  where  he  was  to  take  up  his  abode  in  the 
family  of  one  Philip  Jacob  Wirtz.  An  humble  apart- 
ment was  here  placed  at  his  disposal.  Such  were  the 
temporary  arrangements  made  by  Father  Pax  for  our 
young  and  ardent  missionary.  That  they  were  perfectly 
in  accordance  with  his  own  ideas  we  may  gather  from 
his  record  of  the  day: 

"Father  Pax  is  just  the  man  for  me!  O  God,  my 
desires  are  now  accomplished!  I  am  in  America;  I  am  a 
priest,  a  missionary;  and  I  have  a  flock!  My  Jesus, 
Thou  must  have  strengthened  me  by  Thy  grace,  since 
Thou  dost  entrust  to  me  so  dangerous  a  post." 


Father  Neumanns  Field  as  a  Missionary.   159 


CHAPTER  III. 
Father  Neumann's  Field  as  a  Missionary. 

AT  the  period  which  now  engages  our  readers'  atten- 
tion, about  the  year  1836,  the  state  of  the  Church 
and  of  society  in  the  United  States  presented  aspects 
very  different  from  the  present.  In  western  New  York 
the  missionaries  were  Rev.  John  Nicholas  Mertz  and 
Rev.  Alexander  Pax,  the  founders  of  the  German  con- 
gregations of  that  region.  We  cannot  pass  over  these 
venerable  priests  without  a  short  sketch  of  their  labors. 
It  will  doubtless  prove  interesting  to  the  reader  of  to- 
day to  glance  at  the  missionary  life  of  those  primitive 
times. 

Father  Mertz  was  born  April  26,  1764,  at  Bondorf,  in 
the  diocese  of  Luxemburg.  Obeying  the  inspirations  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  service  of  the 
Church,  and  was  ordained  at  Treves,  March  23,  1791. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  he  made 
a  journey  to  Rome  with  the  intention  of  entering 
the  Society  of  Jesus.  The  venerable  Pontiff,  Pope 
Pius  VII.,  however,  directed  his  attention  to  the  vast 
missionary  fields  of  North  America,  and  urged  him 
to  labor  in  those  regions.  Docile  to  the  wishes  of  His 
Holiness,  Father  Mertz  abandoned  his  first  intention  of 
becoming  a  Jesuit,  and  from  1805  labored  zealously 
amid  the  numerous  hardships  attendant  upon  the  new 
apostolic  missions  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  and, 
lastly,  of  western  New  York.  In  his  sixty-fifth  year  his 
health  and  vigor  were  unimpaired.  The  last  twenty  of 
these  years  had  been  spent,  as  we  have  said,  in  America; 
and  yet  he  always  appeared  clad  in  the  clerical  costume 


160  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

common  to  his  own  country  in  the  last  century.  It  con- 
sisted of  a  three-cornered  cap,  black  cravat,  long  brown 
coat,  knee-breeches,  and  shoe-buckles.  His  extraordi- 
nary appearance  often  subjected  him  to  the  laughter  and 
ridicule  of  the  godless  youth  of  the  place;  but  little  did 
the  good  priest  heed  the  taunts  that  occasionally  met 
his  ears. 

His  dwelling  was  a  small  frame  house  on  the  west  side 
of  Pearl  Street,  between  Court  and  Eagle  streets,  Buf- 
falo. He  celebrated  divine  service  at  first  in  a  poor 
frame  building.  But  later  on,  a  Mr.  Le  Conteulx,  having 
donated  a  plot  of  ground  for  the  purpose,  Father  Mertz 
erected  on  it  a  neat  little  church,  also  of  wood,  and  dedi- 
cated it  to  "The  Lamb  of  God."  The  tabernacle  of  the 
altar  was  bronze,  and  on  it  rested  a  small  image  of  the 
Divine  Lamb.  The  English,  German,  and  French  Catho- 
lics of  Buffalo  all  assembled  in  this  pretty  little  church 
for  the  various  acts  of  public  worship  practised  in  their 
holy  religion.  Although  extremely  poor  himself,  the 
good  pastor  employed  every  means  in  his  power,  and  did 
not  hesitate  to  expend  what  he  could  command  in  the 
adornment  of  the  house  of  God. 

This  venerable  priest  occasionally  visited  Eden,  Lan- 
caster, Sheldon,  North  Bush,  Williamsville,  etc.,  which 
little  towns  then  consisted  of  only  a  few  scattered  houses. 
His  only  conveyance  to  these  distant  places  was  an  ox- 
cart, and  he  often  made  the  journey  on  foot,  carrying 
with  him  whatever  was  needful  for  the  service  of  the 
altar.  The  frequent  insults  he  received  from  the  non- 
Catholics  among  whom  his  duties  called  him  demanded 
on  his  side  the  practice  of  heroic  patience.  On  one  oc- 
casion he  had  ordered  a  table  to  be  placed  in  the  District 
Hall  at  Eden;  but  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of 
the  place  bade  his  son  go  pitch  the  table  out.  The  young 
man  obeyed,  but — strange  to  relate! — at  that  very  mo- 
ment he  fell  into  a  state  of  mental  and  physical  disorder, 
and  shortly  after  died.  The  avenging  hand  of  God  was 


Father  Neumanns  Field  as  a  Missionary.      161 

recognized  by  all  in  this  event,  and  the  father  of 
the  unhappy  youth  was  often  heard  to  say  that  he 
would  take  care  not  to  meddle  with  a  Catholic  priest 
again. 

To  children  and  the  poor  Father  Mertz  was  a  true 
father.  For  the  former  he  provided  instruction  both  in 
the  church  and  the  school-room,  whilst  to  the  latter 
he  furnished  means  to  supply  their  needs.  His  con- 
duct toward  Protestants  and  unbelievers  he  regu- 
lated by  this  principle:  ''Let  us  take  care  to  make 
Catholics  what  they  ought  to  be;  the  rest  will  come  of 
itself." 

In  his  own  humble  dwelling  Father  Mertz  when  not 
engaged  in  prayer  was  never  seen  without  a  book  in  his 
hand.  The  centre  of  all  his  devotion  was  Jesus  in  the 
Blessed  Sacrament. 

This  pious  priest  was  not  spared  by  certain  proud 
spirits  who  aimed  at  governing  both  church  and 
pastor.  On  one  occasion,  during  an  episcopal  visi- 
tation, several  of  these  men  appeared  before  the  Bishop 
as  delegates  of  the  congregation.  Their  complaints 
were  chiefly  of  their  pastor's  want  of  confidence  in 
them  :  he  did  not  entrust  them  with  the  financial 
affairs  of  the  church,  etc.,  although  the  funds  collected 
belonged  to  them.  The  Bishop  listened  patiently  to 
the  end,  and  then  quietly  asked  how  much  each  one 
had  contributed  toward  the  erection  and  support  of  the 
chorch.  This  unexpected  question  was  soon  answered, 
though  to  the  contusion  of  the  disaffected  parties. 
Not  one  could  name  any  particular  sum  as  the  amount 
of  his  donation  ;  for,  in  truth,  not  one  had  contributed 
a  cent. 

When  Father  Mertz  had  reached  his  seventieth  year, 
failing  strength  obliged  him  to  procure  an  assistant. 
Rev.  Alexander  Pax,  in  every  respect  a  most  estimable 
priest,  was  the  one  destined  by  Divine  Providence  to 
share  his  labors.  Born  in  1799,  in  the  diocese  of  Metz, 


1 62  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

he  was  elevated  to  the  priesthood  in  1823.  For  twelve 
years  he  labored  successfully  as  pastor  at  Sucht  and 
Vliesbriicken,  but,  being  informed  of  the  great  want  of 
priests  in  America,  he  left  home  and  friends  for  the  New 
World. 

In  that  same  year,  1835,  Father  Mertz  made  a  journey 
to  Europe  in  behalf  of  the  American  missions,  leaving 
his  extensive  and  laborious  charge  under  the  sole  care 
of  Father  Pax.  With  courageous  activity  the  latter  set 
about  erecting  a  large  church,  which  his  zealous  efforts 
brought  to  speedy  completion.  It  is  still  in  existence, 
and  is  known  as  the  church  of  St.  Louis.  His  cares 
and  sacrifices  were,  however,  repaid  with  the.  greatest 
ingratitude  by  many  for  whom  he  had  so  untiringly 
labored,  for  whom  he  had  undergone  so  many  hard- 
ships. 

In  this  noble  priest  Father  Neumann  found  his  near- 
est neighbor,  his  most  devoted  friend.  They  ex- 
changed visits,  took  counsel  of  each  other  in  important 
matters,  and  found  mutual  support  under  numerous 
trials. 

Two  years  before  Father  Neumann's  arrival  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  church  had  been  urged  by  a  Catholic 
named  Furniss.  With  Father  Mertz's  approval,  a 
collection  was  begun  in  the  neighborhood  for  that 
purpose.  The  proceeds  amounted  to  four  hundred 
dollars,  besides  seventy  loads  of  building  materials. 
The  building  was  immediately  begun  on  a  site  which 
had  been  donated  by  a  Protestant  named  Schmidt. 
The  conditions  attached  to  the  donation  were  that 
the  church  should  be  of  stone,  one  hundred  and  fif- 
teen feet  long,  thirty  feet  broad,  and  twenty-five  feet 
high.  At  the  period  of  Father  Neumann's  arrival 
the  walls  of  the  church  were  already  up.  Though 
the  Catholics  themselves  took  the  matter  in  hand, 
yet  a  considerable  debt  had  accumulated,  which  debt 
was  swelled  by  the  unjust  claims  to  compensation 


Father  Neumanns  Field  as  a  Missionary.    163 

put  forward  by  many  who  had  promised  assistance 
gratis.  Father  Neumann's  method  of  proceeding  in  this 
embarrassing  conjuncture  succeeded  in  calming  the 
storm  so  far  that  several  withdrew  their  claims,  whilst 
others  donated  to  the  church  money  already  advanced. 

The  building  could  boast  neither  roof  nor  floor  when 
Father  Neumann  began  to  hold  service  within  its  naked 
walls.  A  temporary  altar  and  a  few  rough  benches 
alone  betrayed  the  use  already  made  of  it. 

The  non-Catholics  of  the  district  were  at  that  time 
greatly  disaffected  toward  the  Catholic  Church.  The 
services  held  by  Father  Neumann  and  his  little  con- 
gregation were  frequently  disturbed  by  the  noise  and 
clamor  of  a  lawless  crowd  without;  stones  were  thrown 
over  the  walls,  and  one  even  struck  the  altar  during  the 
celebration  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice.  Rude  boys  used  to 
call  to  one  another:  "  Come  on!  Let's  go  to  the  Catholic 
church  and  have  some  fun!" 

After  the  first  public  service  at  Williamsville,  Father 
Neumann  noted  in  his  journal:  "  My  first  sermon  to  my 
parishioners  was  well  received.  I  ascribe  its  success  to 
the  intercession  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  to  whom  I 
have  promised  to  introduce  among  the  children  the 
Confraternity  of  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament." 

Besides  his  parochial  duties  at  Williamsville,  Father 
Neumann  attended  the  following  stations:  North  Bush, 
five  miles  distant;  Lancaster  and  Transit,  six;  Batavia, 
forty;  Sheldon,  twenty;  Niagara,  fifty;  and  several 
other  places  in  that  locality. 

On  July  i8th  the  new  pastor  went  for  the  first  time 
to  Lancaster,  to  administer  the  last  sacraments  to  a 
dying  person.  He  heard  several  confessions  that  eve- 
ning, and  next  morning  celebrated  Mass  in  the  village 
church.  Of  this  visit  he  thus  writes:  "The  church  at 
Lancaster  is  more  like  a  barn  than  a  church.  Whilst 
preaching,  after  Mass,  on  the  humility  of  Jesus  who 
deigns  to  dwell  in  that  poor  hut  as  He  once  did  in  the 


164  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

stable  of  Bethlehem,  my  tears  would  not  be  restrained, 
and  I  was  forced  to  discontinue  my  sermon." 

On  July  2oth  he  rode  to  North  Bush.  Here  the 
Catholics  had  constructed  a  log  chapel  in  which  they 
assembled  on  Sundays  and  holy-days  to  recite  the 
Rosary. 

Father  Neumann  clearly  recognized  the  responsibility 
of  his  post,  but,  convinced  of  his  own  weakness,  he 
prays  for  help:  "  O  my  Jesus,  I,  a  poor,  ignorant  young 
man,  have  become  a  shepherd  in  Thy  sheepfold  !  Lord, 
regard  not  my  sins.  Give  me  an  ever-increasing  love 
for  Thy  redeemed  ones,  that  I  may  labor  at  their  salva- 
tion in  wisdom,  patience,  and  holiness.  Grant  that  not 
one  of  those  whom  Thou  hast  confided  to  me  be  lost 
through  my  fault.  O  my  Jesus,  help  me  to  sanctify  my 
children!  O  holy  Mother  of  my  Lord  and  my  God, 
pray  for  me  and  my  flock!  Holy  guardian  angels  of 
my  dear  children,  teach  me  how  to  act  toward  them  in 
order  to  instil  into  their  hearts  principles  of  pure  faith 
and  the  love  of  God!  Lord,  teach  me  how  to  live,  and, 
if  needs  be,  die  for  my  people,  that  they  may  all  be 
saved,  that  they  may  all  love  and  praise  Thee  in 
eternity,  that  they  may  love  Thy  dear  Mother!  Ah, 
through  that  infinite  love  Thou  didst  exhibit  toward  us 
in  Thy  Incarnation,  have  mercy  on  those  poor  souls 
whom  Thou  hast  redeemed,  have  mercy  on  my  poor 
children!  Mother  Mary,  Thou  who  art  ever  victorious 
over  heresies,  pray  for  all  who  are  walking  in  the  paths 
of  accursed  error!  Open  their  eyes,  touch  their  hearts, 
that  they  may  begin  to  love  Jesus  and  His  Holy  Church 
and  bring  forth  fruits  for  eternal  life!  O  my  poor 
Jesus,  why  do  not  all  men  love  Thee  ?  O  Holy  Spirit, 
have  mercy  on  us  who  do  not  desire  to  taste  how  sweet 
is  the  Lord!  Sanctify  us,  poor,  wretched  creatures,  who 
constantly  offend  our  Creator  and  Lord!  O  sweet 
sufferings  of  my  little  Infant  Saviour,  sweet  pains  of 
love!  Oh,  that  these  tears  of  mine  could  blot  out  my 


Father  Neumanns  Field  as  a  Missionary.    165 

own  sins  and  the  sins  of  my  people!  My  Jesus,  what 
shall  I,  a  poor  creature,  do  to  lead  many  souls,  yea,  all 
souls  to  Thee  ?  Oh,  pity  my  ignorance  !  Teach  me, 
sanctify  me,  a  wretched  sinner.  Holy  Mother  Mary,  St. 
Joseph,  all  ye  holy  virgins,  caress  the  dear  Infant  Jesus 
for  me;  beg  Him  not  to  be  displeased  with  my  poor  chil- 
dren !  Holy  guardian  angels,  holy  patrons,  cease  not  to 
pray  for  me  and  for  them  !  Obtain  for  us  light;  obtain 
for  us  the  love  of  God;  obtain  for  us  perseverance  !" 


1 66  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Father  Neumann's  Zeal  in  the  Discharge   of  his 
Ministry. 

NO  duty  awakened  livelier  interest  in  Father  Neu- 
mann than  the  instruction  of  youth.  Before  his 
arrival  in  Williamsville,  a  teacher  had  come  from  Buffalo 
to  take  charge  of  the  Catholic  children;  but  his  conduct 
was  such  as  to  render  his  dismissal  necessary.  Father 
Neumann  then  assumed  the  duties  of  teacher  himself,  a 
post  which  he  filled  during  seven  months.  "For,"  as  he 
says  in  his  journal,  "  the  debt  contracted  in  the  building 
of  the  church  and  school,  added  to  the  actual  poverty  of 
the  congregation,  made  the  maintenance  of  a  teacher  at 
that  time  impossible." 

As  soon  as  divine  service  was  concluded  at  the  various 
stations  under  his  charge,  he  administered  the  Sacra- 
ments, attended  to  the  other  duties  devolving  on  a 
parish  priest,  and  ended  by  assembling  the  children  for 
instruction.  The  little  ones  of  his  flock  he  looked  upon 
as  the  favorites  of  his  Lord  and  Master,  and  his  first 
thought  after  that  of  the  church  was  to  provide  for  them 
a  school  as  commodious  and  well-disciplined  as  possi- 
ble. Such  improvements  soon  sprung  up  at  most  of  his 
stations;  but  wherever  this  was  still  an  impossibility, 
Father  Neumann,  as  at  Williamsville,  instructed  the 
children  himself  in  the  most  necessary  branches,  and 
this  for  several  weeks  and  even  months  of  the  year.  He 
knew  well  how  to  suit  his  words  and  demeanor  to  the 
age  and  capacity  of  his  scholars,  among  whom  he  ever 
appeared  with  a  smiling  and  affectionate  countenance. 
As  soon  as  he  arrived  at  one  of  his  stations,  the  children 


Zeal  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Ministry.    167 

would  flock  around  him  in  eager,  loving  salutation,  the 
younger  ones,  bolder  than  their  more  advanced  com- 
panions, pressing  on  all  sides,  even  slyly  examining  his 
coat-pockets  for  the  little  gifts  he  was  accustomed  to 
bring  them.  To  encourage  their  good  behavior  and 
diligence,  he  used  to  bestow  upon  them  such  rewards  as 
medals,  rosaries,  pictures,  and  even  candies. 

As  may  be  imagined,  with  such  a  teacher  and  such 
rewards,  Father  Neumann's  school  was  well  attended. 
The  scholars  made  rapid  progress  in  Christian  Doctrine, 
as  well  as  in  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  etc.  To  this 
day,  the  old  residents  of  those  places  .recall  with  plea- 
surable emotions  the  kind,  fatherly  instructor  of  their 
children,  and  often  are  they  heard  to  exclaim,  "  He 
was  a  real  saint  !"  Pictures  and  medals  received  from 
him  in  those  early  days  are  still  treasured  up  as  most 
precious  mementos.  One  of  the  good  Catholic  mothers 
used  to  say  familiarly  to  her  children,  "Our  pastor  de- 
serves to  be  framed  in  gold." 

Father  Neumann  loved  to  hear  his  young  pupils  sing 
in  church  the  hymns  he  himself  had  taught  them;  and 
if,  at  times,  one  or  other  would  offer  as  an  excuse  for  not 
joining  in  with  the  rest  hoarseness  contracted  in  com- 
ing so  far  to  church,  he  would  be  met  with  the  cheery 
reply,  "  Oh,  that  is  nothing!  I  can  easily  cure  that" — 
and  in  fact  a  spoonful  of  sugar,  the  usual  remedy  on 
such  occasions,  joined  to  the  pastor's  kind,  genial  tones, 
soon  had  the  effect  of  dissipating  all  such  ills. 

Sunday  afternoons  were  devoted  to  the  young  people's 
catechetical  instruction.  For  illustrations  of  his  sub- 
jects, Father  Neumann  was  in  the  habit  of  drawing  upon 
the  examples  contained  in  Holy  Writ,  thus  combining 
sacred  history  with  doctrine,  to  the  greater  advantage 
of  his  hearers.  As  an  incentive  to  attention  and  im- 
provement, he  rewarded  with  a  picture,  or  some  other 
trifling  object  of  devotion,  all  who  could  repeat  the  prin- 
cipal points  of  the  last  instruction. 


1 68  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Ever  anxious  to  counteract  the  fearfully  pernicious 
effects  of  immoral  books,  Father  Neumann  exerted  him- 
self untiringly  to  diffuse  among  his  parishioners  good 
and  useful  reading  matter.  Donations  in  the  shape  of 
manuals  and  books  of  piety  were  often  sent  him  from 
his  friends  in  Bohemia,  and  most  thankfully  were  such 
valuable  gifts  received  for  his  poor  missions.  A  dona- 
tion of  this  kind  was  thus  acknowledged:  "All  contri- 
bute largely  to  the  diffusion  of  our  holy  religion  who, 
like  good  children  of  our  Holy  Mother  the  Church,  not 
only  pray  for  her  welfare,  but  prove  their  love  and  at- 
tachment to  her  by  pious  gifts.  The  sympathy  and  sup- 
port which  the  American  missions  find  in  my  native  land 
prove  that  Bohemia  is  not  willing  to  bury  the  inheritance 
bequeathed  her  by  Cyrillus  and  Methodius;  but,  thank- 
ful to  God  and  charitable  to  all  the  redeemed  of  Christ, 
she  seeks  to  return  blessing  for  blessing.  If  you  have 
collected  any  money,  be  so  good  as  to  send  it  to  Augs- 
burg or  Strasburg  for  the  purchase  of  the  following 
books  in  German:  the  works  of  St.  Teresa,  of  Catherine 
Emmerich,  of  Goffine,  etc.;  also  those  of  Blessed  Al- 
phonsus  and  the  publications  of  the  Mechitarists,  etc. 
They  cannot  be  obtained  here,  and  they  are  valuable 
aids  in  the  acquisition  of  piety." 

In  a  letter  to  a  friend,  Father  Neumann  describes  the 
way  in  which  divine  service  was  performed  in  the  early 
days  of  his  mission.  "I  am  very  much  encouraged,"  he 
says,  "  when  I  reflect  that  within  a  few  short  years 
churches  and  schools,  poor  though  they  be,  have  been 
erected  in  many  parts  of  our  district  among  the  woods 
and  swamps.  Even  an  humble  temporary  building  for 
divine  worship  or  instruction  is  a  consoling  spectacle. 
The  altar  is  usually  nothing  more  than  a  table  furnished 
with  a  pair  of  wooden  candlesticks,  a  crucifix,  a  missal, 
two  tumblers,  and  a  plate.  From  the  woods  around, 
frequently  from  a  distance  of  five  to  ten  miles,  flock 
groups  of  worshippers,  natives  of  Alsace,  Lorraine, 


Zeal  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Ministry.    169 

Baden,  France,  Ireland,  etc.,  some  on  horseback,  some 
in  wagons,  all  in  the  costume  of  their  own  nation.  The 
more  courageous  among  them  assemble  in  the  nearest 
churches  on  the  Sundays  on  which  they  have  no  priest, 
and  try  to  sing  a  hymn  together.  But  this  is  difficult 
for  some,  on  account  of  the  variety  of  language  and 
melody.  Truly,  my  dear  friend,  did  I  not  know  that 
Jesus  Christ  was  born  in  a  stable  and  died  on  a  cross,  I 
should  doubt  the  lawfulness  of  celebrating  the  Holy 
Mysteries  in  such  poverty.  May  God  compensate  us  by 
giving  us  hearts  rich  in  virtue  and  grace!" 

Father  Neumann,  besides  the  pious  books  previously 
referred  to,  received  also,  on  several  different  occasions, 
donations  of  vestments  and  other  religious  articles  for 
his  churches.  Such  gifts  brought  joy  to  the  heart  of  our 
fervent  young  missionary. 

"  The  many  precious  things  I  have  received,"  he  says 
in  one  of  his  letters,  "  add  splendor  to  our  ceremonies, 
and  stir  up  even  our  most  indifferent  members  to  con- 
tribute a  mite  toward  the  beautifying  of  our  altars." 

Before  the  great  feasts  of  the  Church,  he  often  labored 
with  his  own  hands  at  the  decoration  of  the  altar  and 
sacred  edifice.  He  desired  that  everything  appertaining 
to  divine  service  should  be  arranged  with  exquisite  neat- 
ness and  all  the  magnificence  possible,  and  this  with  the 
twofold  intention  of  honoring  God  and  saving  souls,  as 
we  may  gather  from  his  own  words: 

"  In  respect  to  our  holy  religion  affairs  are  progress- 
ing. Catholicity  is  spreading,  and  the  zeal  of  the  faith- 
ful is  considerably  on  the  increase.  Many  of  my  good 
people  have  acknowledged  that  they  consider  their  soul's 
salvation  furthered  by  their  immigration  to  America; 
for  in  Europe,  where  churches  and  schools  abound, 
where  the  facilities  for  practising  our  holy  religion  are  so 
numerous,  they  did  not  feel  half  the  earnestness  and  zeal 
that  now  animate  them.  In  fact,  under  the  inspiration 
of  God,  these  good  people  may  be  seen  at  work  for  days 


1 70  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

and  even  weeks  at  a  time  in  the  construction  and  adorn- 
ment of  their  churches.  God  strikingly  manifests  His 
goodness  in  them.  The  thought  of  a  church  which  they 
may  call  their  own  is  to  them  a  most  consoling  one. 
Thank  God,  they  have  not  labored  in  vain,  nor  are  they 
likely  to  absent  themselves  from  divine  worship  in  the 
future!  When  we  consider,  besides,  that  most  of  them, 
especially  those  who  live  remote  from  the  cities,  are  mis- 
erably poor,  we  must  regard  their  readiness  to  help  in 
the  good  work  as  an  evident  sign  of  divine  co-operation. 
Laboring  in  the  sweat  of  their  brow,  amid  the  turmoil 
of  the  world,  their  heart  still  hungers  for  something 
higher  and  holier,  and  in  their  poverty  they  turn  to  the 
Lord,  who  alone  can  satisfy  their  cravings  for  happiness. 
Labor  and  privation  then  grow  sweet,  and  they  are  filled 
with  childlike  faith  and  love  for  God.  Like  Simon  of 
Cyrene,  they  are,  in  some  sort,  forced  to  carry  the 
cross,  and  in  it  they  discover  graces  hitherto  unknown." 

After  a  stay  of  seven  months  at  Williamsville,  Father 
Neumann  removed  to  North  Bush.  Here  he  remained 
for  the  next  eighteen  months  in  the  family  of  the  devout 
Catholic  above  mentioned,  Mr.  John  Schmidt;  meantime, 
adjoining  the  log  chapel,  a  small  frame  house  was  com- 
menced for  his  accommodation.  Whilst  the  building 
was  in  progress,  the  reverend  pastor  walked  daily  to 
his  church,  the  distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half  through  a 
marshy  forest.  But  he  consoled  himself  for  this  hardship 
and  the  many  others  that  it  entailed  by  the  tender 
and  loving  aspirations  he  poured  forth  to  his  God  in  the 
solitude  of  the  woods. 

The  summer  of  1837  found  Father  Neumann  still  a 
member  of  the  Schmidt  family.  During  this  period,  the 
Bishop,  making  the  rounds  of  his  pastoral  visitation,  in- 
cluded the  parishes  confided  to  the  young  priest's  care. 
He  was  received  with  all  the  honor  possible  on  his  arrival 
from  Buffalo,  accompanied  by  Father  Prost,  C.SS.R., 
Superior  of  the  Redemptorists.  The  male  portion  of  the 


Zeal  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Ministry.   171 

congregation,  old  and  young,  in  holiday  attire,  awaited 
for  hours,  in  anxious  expectation,  their  distinguished  visi- 
tor's arrival;  and  when  the  carriage  drove  up  they 
crowded  around  it,  eager  to  offer  their  cordial  welcomes 
and  expressions  of  joy. 

After  the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation  had  been  admin- 
istered, the  pastor  conducted  the  Bishop  and  his  com- 
panion to  Williamsville  and  his  other  stations.  The 
Bishop  was  astonished  on  beholding  everywhere  such 
fruits  of  the  young  priest's  zeal,  nor  was  he  slow  in  giv- 
ing expression  to  his  unlimited  satisfaction.  Father 
Neumann  proposed  some  difficulties  that  had  arisen  in 
the  discharge  of  his  pastoral  duties,  and  received  the 
Bishop's  decision  on  the  same.  That  evening  he  wrote 
in  his  journal: 

"Lord,  enlighten  my  doubts  respecting  my  parishion- 
ers of  North  Bush  and  Lancaster.  I  will  be  obedient  to 
the  voice  of  my  Bishop,  regarding  it  as  Thine  own." 

From  a  letter  to  his  parents,  dated  February  5,  1837, 
in  which  he  explains  to  them  his  mode  of  life,  we  glean 
a  few  passages  which  afford  a  glimpse  of  his  noble 
heart,  his  effective  love  of  God,  and  his  deep  filial  love. 
It  runs: 

"  Though  determined  to  await  an  answer  to  my  last 
before  acquainting  you  with  my  present  situation,  yet 
the  thought  of  your  anxiety  haunts  me,  urging  me  to 
write  again.  No  doubt  you  well  remember  my  promise 
to  give  you  a  true  account  of  myself.  This  I  can  do  the 
more  readily  as  I  have  no  reason  to  fear  the  intelligence 
conveyed  by  my  letter  will  cause  you  to  die  either  of  joy 
or  of  grief. 

"  Like  an  old  German  emperor  followed  everywhere 
by  his  court  do  I  carry  with  me  all  needful  church  arti- 
cles when  visiting  my  three  parishes  of  Williamsville, 
North  Bush,  and  Lancaster.  From  an  American  citizen 
here  I  have  received  two  acres  of  land  for  a  church. 
The  large  number  of  French  and  Irish  Catholics  at  Ni- 


172  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

agara  Falls  renders  a  church,  or  at  least  a  chapel,  neces- 
sary. Do  you  remember  our  examining  together  a  fine 
steel  engraving  of  the  Falls  ?  You  little  imagined  then 
that  I  would  one  day  establish  a  parish  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. I  am  so  near  to  them  that  I  can  hear  the  roar  of 
the  cataract  in  my  room.  It  sounds  like  the  noise  of  a 
distant  hail-storm.  I  have*not  yet  visited  the  Falls." 

One  of  Father  Neumann's  intimate  friends  assures  us 
that  it  was  the  love  of  mortification  alone  that  could  lead 
him  to  deny  himself  a  sight  of  that  widely-famed  spec- 
tacle. To  such  a  lover  of  nature  it  must  have  been  no 
trifling  sacrifice. 

To  resume:  "  I  am  living  here  at  North  Bush  with  a 
native  of  Lorraine  who,  in  consideration  of  payment  in 
the  next  life,  furnishes  me  with  board  and  lodging.  My 
furniture  consists  of  four  chairs  lately  purchased  with 
some  money  I  had  laid  by,  two  trunks,  and  a  few  books. 
For  your  consolation,  I  will  tell  you  that  the  timber  for 
my  future  residence  has  already  been  cut,  and  my  peo- 
ple are  rejoicing  in  the  prospect  of  supplying  me  with 
corn,  potatoes,  etc.  I  have  never  yet  suffered  from  hun- 
ger; and  as  for  clothes — when  one  garment  grows  too 
shabby  for  wear,  some  one  or  other  of  my  good  people 
provides  me  with  another.  So,  you  see,  my  dear  par- 
ents, things  fare  well  with  me.  If  it  were  otherwise,  this 
wandering  life  that  I  lead  would  soon  become  impracti- 
cable; but,  as  it  is,  every  house  is  my  home." 

After  entering  into  a  detailed  description  of  the  coun- 
try, its  people,  its  animals  and  plants,  he  continues: 

"  I  am  becoming  more  and  more  engrossed  in  my  du- 
ties. It  is  likely  I  shall  never  have  a  chance  to  go  sable- 
hunting  as  Commissioner  Herbst  predicted.  As  much 
as  I  would  like  to  spend  a  few  days  with  you  and 
give  you  an  oral  account  of  my  short  experience  in 
America,  I  shall  have  to  defer  the  realization  of  that 
desire  for  several  years.  The  want  of  priests  is  so  great 
that  it  is  impossible  for  the  few  who  are  here  to  take 


Zeal  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Ministry.   1 73 

long  journeys.  Ah,  how  often  have  I  not  wished  for  the 
strength  to  multiply  my  exertions,  in  order  to  meet  the 
innumerable  spiritual  wants ! 

"Be  persuaded,  my  dear  parents,  that  I  often  think  of 
you,  of  my  brother  and  sisters,  and  of  all  my  friends ; 
all  are  daily  remembered  at  the  Holy  Sacrifice.  What- 
ever good  Almighty  God  may  will  to  effect  here  through 
my  instrumentality  will  redound  to  your  benefit,  as  well 
as  to  my  own;  for  that  I  am  now  a  priest  is  owing  to 
you,  under  God.  What  joy  would  be  yours  could  you 
see  the  affection  entertained  for  me  by  my  good  parish- 
ioners !  And  again  would  you  rejoice  at  the  sight  of 
our  holy  religion  planted  and  cultivated,  with  the  help 
of  divine  grace,  in  the  midst  of  these  dark  forests.  Oh, 
that  my  former  fellow-students  and  their  parents  could 
behold  the  need  of  missionaries  here  !  Could  they  but 
see  the  tears  of  those  who,  like  the  children  of  Israel  in 
the  Babylonian  captivity,  are  cut  off  from  the  consola- 
tions of  religion;  the  children  eager  for  instruction,  yet 
growing  up  in  ignorance  and  infidelity,  the  dying  pass- 
ing to  another  life  unassisted  by  priest  or  sacrament — 
could  they  see  these  and  many  other  things  equally  sad, 
they  would  surely  renounce  temporal  satisfaction  and 
comfort  to  afford  assistance  to  their  Catholic  brethren 
in  North  America !  Great  would  be  their  reward  on 
the  last  day." 

Father  Neumann's  letters  to  his  parents  and  family 
always  happily  arrived  at  their  destination  ;  but  the 
answers  to  them,  though  forwarded  regularly,  seem  not 
to  have  reached  him.  This  may  have  been  owing  to 
some  misdirection  or  some  fault  of  the  mail.  Whatever 
may  have  been  the  cause,  news  from  home,  though  indi- 
rectly received,  was  always  a  great  satisfaction  to  the 
young  missionary  in  his  far-off  field  of  labor.  When,  in 
this  way,  he  heard  of  his  sister  Joanna's  entrance  into 
the  religious  state,  he  expressed  his  satisfaction  in  a 
letter  to  his  parents,  as  follows: 


1 74  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann, 

"  Joanna's  resolution  to  enter  among  the  Sisters  of 
Charity  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo  is  a  subject  of  heart- 
felt joy  to  me.  It  has  infused  new  courage  into  my  own 
soul.  May  our  merciful  Lord  enkindle  more  and  more 
in  my  heart  the  fire  of  Christian  charity  toward  my 
neighbor !  God  be  praised  for  having  inspired  my 
sister  with  the  good  thought  of  consecrating  herself 
entirely  to  His  service,  and  for  having  strengthened  her 
to  overcome  the  numerous  difficulties  opposed  to  the 
accomplishment  of  such  a  resolution  !  I  salute  her  with 
all  my  heart,  and  beg  her  prayers  in  behalf  of  the  poor 
scattered  faithful  of  America." 

The  actual  hardships  of  his  mission  Father  Neumann 
never  hinted  at  in  his  letters  to  his  family.  He  wished 
to  spare  them  unnecessary  anxiety  on  his  account. 
Trials  and  sufferings  of  various  kinds  were  not,  how- 
ever, wanting  to  him.  The  district  in  which  several  of 
his  missions  lay  was  marshy  and  unhealthy,  thereby 
engendering  much  sickness.  Whooping-cough  was 
prevalent  among  the  children,  while  gastric  fever  at- 
tacked the  adults.  This  painful  and  tedious  illness 
called  for  the  daily  services  of  the  zealous  physician 
of  souls,  and  often  was  he  seen  in  the  depth  of  winter 
crossing  the  marshes,  sometimes  on  foot,  sometimes  on 
horseback,  carrying  the  Blessed  Sacrament  in  hands  stiff 
from  the  cold.  During  these  long  journeys  he  used  to 
pray  with  head  uncovered,  and  in  summer  he  generally 
arrived  home  worn  out  from  fatigue,  his  garments 
saturated  with  perspiration  and  bespattered  with  mud. 
When  his  kind-hearted  host  wished  to  brush  and  clean 
them,  deeming  it  an  honor  to  do  so,  the  humble  priest 
would  not  accept  such  a  service.  But  if  Mr.  Schmidt, 
as  sometimes  happened,  succeeded  in  doing  so  secretly, 
Father  Neumann,  not  content  with  expressing  his 
thanks  in  words,  would  offer  his  assistance  for  work  in 
the  field. 

It  not  unfrequently  happened  that  directly  after  Mass 


Zeal  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Ministry,     i  75 

he  was  obliged  to  answer  one  or  more  sick  -  calls, 
from  which  he  returned  in  the  evening  fasting  as  he 
went;  for  he  made  it  a  rule  never  to  ask  for  anything. 
His  long  journeys  through  the  gloomy  forests  were 
not  only  very  fatiguing,  but  often  attended  with  dan- 
ger from  venomous  reptiles  and  ravenous  beasts.  And 
not  less  than  these  were  the  attacks  of  wicked  men 
to  be  dreaded,  for  the  solitary  and  unprotected  way- 
farer might  have  been  set  upon  with  impunity.  More 
than  once  Father  Neumann  escaped  in  such  encoun- 
ters owing  to  the  manifest  interposition  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence. 

On  one  occasion  his  feet  were  so  blistered  and  sore 
from  walking  that,  unable  to  go  further,  he  sunk  down 
at  the  foot  of  a  tree.  Presently  he  saw  several  dark 
figures  approaching.  They  gathered  around  him  in 
threatening  attitudes,  and  regarded  him  with  a  fierce 
air.  The  poor  helpless  traveller  recognized  in  them 
a  band  of  roving  Indians,  and  inwardly  recommended 
himself  to  God.  But  as  soon  as  these  wild  sons  of 
the  forest  discovered  that  he  was  a  "  black  gown," 
they  spread  a  buffalo-skin  on  the  ground,  placed  him 
on  it,  and  in  this  novel  conveyance  transported  him 
to  his  destination.  On  another  occasion,  whilst  return- 
ing from  baptizing  a  child,  at  a  sharp  turn  in  the 
road  the  wagon  made  a  sudden  lurch,  and  Father  Neu- 
mann was  pitched  out  backward.  In  his  evening  record 
of  that  day  he  says:  "O  my  Jesus,  it  was  a  miracle 
of  Thy  mercy  that  I  was  not  instantly  killed!"  He 
did  not,  however,  escape  unhurt.  His  left  arm  was  in- 
jured so  seriously  that  it  was  feared  it  would  have  to 
be  amputated.  He  suffered  intense  pain  from  the  ac- 
cident, and  for  two  weeks  had  to  forego  the  consolation 
of  saying  Mass. 

One  night  as  he  was  returning  from  a  sick-call,  a 
furious  thunder  -  storm  burst  upon  him  and  the  rain 


176  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

fell  in  torrents.  In  the  pitchy  darkness  Father  Neu- 
mann lost  his  way  in  the  swamps.  He  wandered  up 
and  down,  now  right,  now  left,  uncertain  what  direc- 
tion to  take.  In  his  perplexity  he  began  to  implore 
Almighty  God  to  shed  a  ray  of  light  upon  his  path- 
way, when  suddenly  his  prayer  was  answered.  Not 
far  ahead  he  perceived  through  the  waving  branches  a 
faint  gleam  as  if  from  a  solitary  lamp.  He  followed 
the  light  and  soon  came  upon  a  wretched  hovel.  His 
rap  at  the  door  was  answered  by  the  voice  of  a  child 
crying,  "We  let  no  one  in  at  night."  Again  he  rapped, 
and  again  received  the  same  response  to  his  call  for 
admission.  It  was  only  after  repeated  efforts  and 
entreaties  that  the  door  was  opened  and  he  was  ushered 
into  a  scene  of  misery.  Off  in  one  corner,  with  only  a 
little  moss  between  him  and  the  bare  ground,  lay  a  man 
apparently  in  the  agonies  of  death.  The  poor  fellow, 
as  Father  Neumann  afterward  learned,  had  but  recently 
lost  both  wife  and  children,  the  little  girl  who  opened 
the  door  being  the  only  one  left  to  him.  She,  poor 
child,  would  soon  have  been  an  orphan,  were  it  not  for 
the  priest's  timely  arrival.  The  man  was  an  Irish 
Catholic,  and  intense  were  his  joy  and  gratitude  on 
finding  himself  so  unexpectedly  visited  by  one  who 
could  minister  to  him  the  helps  of  religion  in  his  trying 
hour.  Father  Neumann,  seeing  his  utter  prostration, 
instantly  brought  forth  the  small  bottle  of  wine  he  car- 
ried with  him  for  the  service  of  the  altar,  and  poured 
some  down  his  throat.  Its  effects  were  instantaneous. 
The  man  revived  and  was  soon  able  to  make  his  con- 
fession. When  morning  dawned  and  Father  Neumann 
left  the  hut,  the  poor  fellow,  thanks  to  the  kind  minis- 
trations of  his  guest,  was  in  a  fair  way  of  recovery. 
He  praised  God  whose  providential  care  had  furnished 
him  with  aid  so  timely,  and  ever  after  preserved  the 
most  grateful  remembrance  of  his  benefactor,  Father 
Neumann. 


Zeal  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Ministry.    177 

That  the  sick  whose  poverty  forbade  the  procuring 
of  physicians  and  medicines  might  not  be  destitute 
of  assistance,  Father  Neumann  began  the  study  of 
the  healing  art.  His  extensive  knowledge  of  botany 
served  him  here,  and  his  constant  journeying  through 
country  and  forest  afforded  an  opportunity  for  pro- 
curing herbs  suited  to  his  purpose.  We  have  met  in- 
dividuals who  still  remember  their  pastor's  solicitude  in 
searching  for  flowers  and  plants  to  be  used  in  com- 
pounding medicines.  In  one  of  his  letters  to  Europe 
he  says: 

"  As  I  am  obliged  to  roam  the  forests,  I  have  made 
use  of  the  opportunity  thus  afforded  to  extend  my 
knowledge  of  botany.  I  gather  the  flowers  on  my  way, 
many  of  them  unknown  in  your  country.  Had  I  an 
opportunity,  I  would  send  to  Bohemia  specimens  of  the 
rare  and  curious  plants  I  everywhere  meet."  Later 
Father  Neumann  found  means  to  forward  a  very  rare 
and  valuable  collection  to  Munich,  where  it  was  de- 
servedly appreciated. 

The  exemplary  conduct  of  their  young  pastor  was  a 
subject  of  great  edification  to  the  souls  under  his  care. 
His  life  was  to  them  a  living  and  perpetual  exhortation 
to  good.  To  fervent  prayer  he  joined  assiduous  study, 
and  it  was  a  subject  of  astonishment  to  many  to  find 
him,  though  otherwise  so  poor,  the  possessor  of  quite  a 
choice  little  library.  This  circumstance  may  be  re- 
garded as  a  proof  that  in  the  solitude  of  the  forest 
Father  Neumann  continued  what  he  had  ever  been,  a 
friend  of  study. 

And  now  he  began  to  comprehend  the  ever-growing 
magnitude  of  the  work  devolving  on  him,  as  well  as  his 
own  inability  to  compass  it  unaided  and  alone.  He 
multiplied  his  petitions  for  a  German  co-laborer  to 
whom  he  might  confide  two  of  the  largest  and  most  im- 
portant of  his  parishes,  retaining  for  himself  the  smallest 
and  most  difficult.  After  some  delay,  the  Bishop  was 


178  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

able  to  grant  his  request  and  appoint  Rev.  F.  L to 

the  charge  of  Williamsville  and  Lancaster.  But  Father 
Neumann's  zeal  was  not  to  be  seconded  by  Father 

L .    This  unfortunate  priest  proved  himself  a  hireling 

and  intruder  in  the  sheepfold  of  Christ.  Only  a  few 
days  had  elapsed  after  his  appointment,  when  letters 
were  despatched  to  the  Bishop  characterizing  his  con- 
duct and  teaching  as  very  suspicious,  to  say  the  least. 
Father  Neumann  made  repeated  efforts  to  arouse  the 
poor  man  to  a  sense  of  his  duty  to  God,  to  his  neigh- 
bor, and  to  himself,  but  all  in  vain.  He  was  at  last 
suspended  by  the  Bishop,  and  Father  Pax,  of  Buffalo, 
entrusted  with  the  execution  of  the  measure.  Father 
Pax,  accordingly,  betook  himself  to  Lancaster,  but  only 
to  find  the  incumbent  absent.  He  published  the  Bishop's 
writ  of  suspension  against  the  unworthy  pastor,  and  ex- 
plained to  the  people  the  grievousness  of  receiving  the 
Sacraments  from  the  hands  of  a  suspended  priest. 
Father  Pax  then  returned  to  Buffalo,  carrying  with  him 
the  consecrated  altar-stone  which  he  himself  had  lent  to 

Father  L on  his  appointment  to  Lancaster.    Father 

L was  at  Williamsville    during  the  transaction   of 

these  events,  and,  when  the  news  reached  him,  he  was 
so  enraged  that  he  set  about  inciting  the  people 
of  that  place  to  rebel  against  their  lawful  superiors. 
The  unfortunate  ecclesiastic  happened  to  possess  two 
qualifications  which  won  for  him  the  favor  of  his 
parishioners  and  secured  to  him  unbounded  influence 
over  them:  he  was  an  eloquent  preacher  and  a  fine 
singer.  Taking  advantage  of  his  popularity,  he  urged 
the  building  of  a  pastoral  residence,  etc.  The  circum- 
stance of  the  altar-stone  was  no  secret  in  the  Catholic 
community  of  Lancaster;  but  Father  L —  -carried  his 
audacity  and  impiety  so  far  as  to  have  a  fac-simile  of 
the  first  made,  and  went  on  saying  Mass  as  before.  To 
put  an  end  to  these  scandalous  proceedings,  Fathers  Pax, 
Mertz,  and  Neumann  went  together  to  Williamsville, 


Zeal  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Ministry.    1 79 

assembled  the  congregation,  and  pointed  out  to  them  in 
presence  of  the  wretched  priest  the  abomination  in  the 
holy  place.  They  explained  it  as  the  bounden  duty  of 
all  who  called  themselves  Catholics  to  avoid  one  who 
had  been  so  unhappy  as  to  have  incurred  the  punish- 
ment of  ecclesiastical  suspension.  The  unfortunate  ob- 
ject of  their  strictures  was,  at  last,  covered  with  con- 
fusion. He  could  utter  no  word  in  extenuation  of  his 
conduct,  though,  alas  !  he  manifested  no  sign  of  con- 
trition for  the  past.  His  flock  withdrew  from  him,  and 
he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  diocese.  Father  Neu- 
mann was  thus  obliged  to  resume  his  first  charge. 

As  soon  as  the  humble  frame  house  at  North  Bush 
was  ready  to  receive  him,  Father  Neumann  took  posses- 
sion of  it.  With  the  exception  of  a  little  boy  of  ten,  one 
of  the  neighbors'  sons  whom  he  engaged  to  stay  in  the 
house  during  his  own  absence,  Father  Neumann  was  its 
sole  occupant. 

Scarcely  once  a  week  was  smoke  seen  to  rise  from  the 
chimney.  His  parishioners,  who  felt  great  sympathy 
for  their  gentle,  patient  pastor,  often  wondered  how  or 
on  what  he  lived.  Sometimes  they  ventured  even  to  put 
the  question,  when,  with  a  cheerful  smile,  he  would  an- 
swer, "  Bread  and  butter  and  cheese  are  very  nourishing." 
Occasionally  he  was  urged  to  remind  the  people  that 
they  ought  to  provide  him  with  good  food  properly 
prepared.  "  They  know  very  well,"  he  would  reply, 
"  what  I  need.  If  they  wish  to  supply  my  wants,  I  am 
willing  to  receive." 

The  little  ten-year-old  companion  received  from  his 
pastor,  we  may  imagine,  many  a  useful  lesson.  Among 
other  things,  Father  Neumann  once  told  the  little  fellow 
that  he  who  would  sleep  soundly  must  take  a  light  sup- 
per. This  piece  of  information  seems  greatly  to  have 
impressed  his  young  hearer.  Not  many  days  after,  both 
found  themselves  seated  at  quite  an  exceptional  meal  for 
them,  thanks  to  the  bounty  of  some  good  parishioner. 


i8o  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Hunger  lent  a  zest  of  its  own,  and  the  savory  dishes 
were  receiving  full  justice,  when  suddenly  the  child  re- 
called the  lesson  lately  received.  He  paused,  and  with 
the  simplicity  which  so  often  amused  the  good  priest  he 
said,  "Your  reverence,  if  you  stop  eating  now,  you'll 
sleep  all  the  better  for  it." 

In  his  letters  home  Father  Neumann  frequently  ex- 
pressed the  desire  of  having  his  brother  Wenceslaus  with 
him.  The  latter  was  not  at  all  averse  to  accepting  the 
invitation,  provided  his  parents  would  give  their  consent. 
After  repeated  urging  to  this  effect,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neu- 
mann generously  agreed  to  part  with  their  only  remain- 
ing son;  and  on  the  25th  of  September,  1839,  the  two 
brothers  met  once  again,  after  a  separation  of  more  than 
three  years.  Father  Neumann  at  once  informed  his  par- 
ents of  his  brother's  arrival  in  America.  He  says: 

"I  rejoice  at  being  able  to  apprise  you  of  the  arrival 
of  our  dear  Wenceslaus.  He  took  me  by  surprise  two 
days  before  the  feast  of  his  holy  patron.  Not  having 
heard  directly  from  you  since  my  departure  from  Prach- 
atitz,  I  was  becoming  very  anxious.  But  the  good  news 
and  loving  messages  he  brings  me  dispelled  all  un- 
easiness and  carried  me  back  home.  I  thank  God 
for  giving  you  the  strength  to  make  so  many  and  so 
.great  sacrifices,  and  that,  renouncing  temporal  comforts 
and  advantages,  you  serve  Him  in  domestic  seclusion." 

Wenceslaus  proved  a  great  help  to  his  reverend  brother, 
who  for  over  three  years  had  had  to  manage  as  best  he 
could  for  himself.  Poverty,  joined  to  his  disinclination 
to  employ  strangers,  had  forced  him  to  look  after  his  own 
domestic  concerns.  Now,  however,  things  took  a  turn 
for  the  better;  the  surroundings  began  to  look  more 
homelike.  An  air  of  comfort,  never  before  seen  there, 
began  to  pervade  the  lowly  dwelling  of  the  missionary; 
and,  though  plain  as  before,  it  now  lost  that  general  ap- 
pearance of  loneliness  and  desolation.  Returning  from 
a  fatiguing  journey,  exhausted  by  heat  or  benumbed  by 


Zeal  in  the  Discharge  of  his  Ministry.    181 

cold,  Father  Neumann  now  found  a  devoted  friend  to 
welcome  him  and  surround  him  with  every  care  a  brother's 
love  could  suggest.  Wenceslaus  soon  became  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  schools,  as  Father  Neumann  informs  us 
in  a  letter  to  a  friend: 

"My  brother  has  excellent  health  here.  During  my 
absence  he  teaches  in  the  school  at  North  Bush,  besides 
which  he  is  general  superintendent  of  our  household 
affairs.  I  assure  you  he  takes  good  care  of  me.  As  the 
parish  of  St.  John  Nepomucene  at  North  Bush  increases 
rapidly  in  numbers,  though  not  in  this  world's  goods, 
my  brother  intends  giving  instruction  to  the  children  of 
three  or  four  localities.  How  glad  I  am  to  have  him 
with  me  ! — arid  still  more  delighted  at  finding  him  so 
willing  to  take  upon  himself  the  care  of  these  abandoned 
children  solely  for  the  love  of  God  and  our  Holy  Mother 
the  Church.  He  is  now,  by  prayer  and  study,  preparing 
for  his  new  vocation.  May  God  strengthen  and  enlighten 
him  !" 


1 82  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER    V. 
Trials  and  Sufferings  in  the  Ministry. 

WHEN  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  sent  His  disciples  to 
teach  the  Gospel  to  all  nations,  like  a  good  and 
thoughtful  father  He  gave  them  some  advice  by  which 
to  regulate  their  conduct.  This  He  did  as  much  for 
their  own  benefit  as  for  the  speedy  conversion  of  their 
fellow-men.  Among  other  warnings  is  found  the  follow- 
ing: "Be  ye  therefore  prudent  as  serpents  and  simple 
as  doves."* 

If  in  their  time  the  Apostles  and  disciples  of  our  Lord 
needed  these  rare  qualities  combined  with  solid  sanctity, 
may  we  not  conclude  that  in  no  less  degree  were  they 
requisite  for  a  missionary  coming  from  Europe  to  the 
United  States  in  Father  Neumann's  day? 

The  reason  is  obvious.  Before  his  time  the  missionary 
in  America  might  be  said  to  have  no  home,  or  rather  his 
home  was  everywhere — wherever  a  Catholic  family  dwelt, 
there  might  he  seek  and  find  a  welcome.  To  perform 
his  priestly  functions  he  was  obliged  to  travel  inces- 
santly over  the  vast  district  under  his  care.  In  the 
houses  of  his  scattered  flock  he  celebrated  Mass,  preached, 
and  administered  the  Sacraments.  A  chasuble,  a  chalice, 
and  a  portable  altar  were  all  that  he  needed  for  such 
duties  almost  the  whole  year  round.  His  position  was 
precarious,  his  life  one  of  fatigue  and  sacrifice.  But  he 
had  the  consolation  of  knowing  that  every  member  of 
his  flock  was  as  well  provided  with  spiritual  food  as  the 
circumstances  of  the  time  would  permit. 

*  Matt.  x.  16. 


Trials  and  Sufferings  in  the  Ministry.    183 

But  tliis  state  of  things  could  not  continue  forever. 
Catholics  increased  in  numbers;  the  young  could  not  be 
allowed  to  grow  up  in  religious  ignorance  or  indiffer- 
ence; churches,  schools,  and  pastoral  residences  had  to 
be  erected;  some  fixed  plan  of  action  had  to  regulate 
the  missionary's  movements,  etc.  Such  undertakings, 
though  ever  so  poor  and  simple  in  the  beginning,  in- 
volved considerable  expense.  Hence  arose  the  first 
difficulty.  Most  of  the  people  of  Father  Neumann's 
district  were  very  poor;  consequently,  although  recog- 
nizing the  necessity,  they  could  contribute  but  little  to 
these  noble  purposes.  Again,  the  majority  of  his  scat- 
tered sheep  came  from  a  country  where  they  had  found 
church  and  school  ready  for  use  and  open  to  all;  where 
priests  and  teachers  received  in  common  with  state  offi- 
cials their  salary  from  the  government;  and  where, 
apart  from  the  penny  collection  of  Sunday,  no  demands 
were  made  on  their  purse. 

Now  they  had  to  learn  in  their  newly-adopted  home 
that  all  this  could  not  be  done  without  their  own  co- 
operation. To  many  it  was  evident  and  reasonable. 
They  saw  their  pastor  poorer  even  than  themselves; 
they  understood  that  he  could  do  nothing  for  them 
without  their  scanty  contributions.  To  others,  again,  it 
was  hard  to  understand  why  things  should  not  be  in 
America  just  as  they  had  left  them  in  their  homes  of 
earlier  years.  In  the  next  place,  these  infant  congrega- 
tions consisted  of  members  speaking,  for  the  most  part, 
the  same  language,  though  in  many  different  dialects. 
They  came  from  different  provinces  and  dioceses  of 
Germany.  All  brought  with  them  some  traditional  cus- 
toms and  ceremonies  which  long  usage  had  made  very 
dear  to  them.  They  may,  indeed,  have  known  that  such 
customs  were  not  essential  to  their  religion,  but  who  is 
not  aware  of  how  tenacious  some  faithful  Catholics  are 
of  these  little  observances,  how  unwilling  to  give  them 
up? 


184  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

And  so  it  became  the  pastor's  duty  to  reduce  this 
chaos  to  order,  to  instruct  and  guide  his  poor  sheep  in 
prudence  and  simplicity,  in  patience  and  firmness,  and  to 
unite  them  in  the  little  church  which  after  a  long  strug- 
gle and  with  many  sacrifices  had  been  built  and  blessed 
for  their  use. 

In  the  following  letter  to  Rev.  Father  Dichtl  the 
young  pastor  gives  a  detailed  account  of  his  missionary 
field: 

"  Only  a  poor  priest,  or  one  who  is  content  to  endure 
the  hardships  of  poverty,  can  labor  here  with  fruit. 
His  duties  call  him  far  and  near,  and  he  is  constantly 
on  the  go;  he  leads  what  might  be  termed  a  wandering 
life.  The  new  settlers,  on  arriving  in  the  district,  choose 
a  spot  in  the  woods  upon  which,  in  a  few  days,  there 
rises  a  log-cabin.  Then  they  clear  a  certain  space  all 
round  by  felling  or  burning  down  the  trees,  where  they 
plant  potatoes  and  sow  oats.  In  a  few  years  these  pro- 
ducts give  place  to  wheat.  Our  Germans  all  live  this 
way  in  the  woods,  about  two  to  twelve  miles  apart. 
The  only  pleasure  allowable  to  the  parish  priest  is  that 
found  in  the  care  of  souls.  If  he  seeks  comforts,  honors, 
riches,  he  will  seek  in  vain;  he  will  lose  both  patience 
and  courage;  his  usefulness  will  come  to  an  end. 

"  Here  all  are  expected  to  contribute  toward  the  main- 
tenance of  pastors  and  teachers;  and,  no  matter  how 
trifling  the  contribution,  there  are  some  who  think 
themselves  antitled  to  a  voice  in  parochial  affairs. 
Others  wish  to  see  the  non-essential  customs  of  their 
own  country,  their  own  diocese, — yes,  even  of  their  own 
parish, — introduced  and  followed  here  in  their  new 
home.  The  consequences  likely  to  flow  from  such  a 
state  of  things  may  be  readily  imagined.  Party-spirit 
becomes  the  order  of  the  day,  a  spirit  to  be  counteracted 
only  by  patience  and  prudence  on  the  part  of  the  pastor. 
The  priest  must  love  poverty  also,  since  his  parishioners 
are,  with  few  exceptions,  as  needy  as  himself. 


Trials  and  Sufferings  in  the  Ministry.     185 

"The  care  of  souls  is,  however,  full  of  consolation, 
since  the  less  the  gratitude  of  those  for  whom  he  la- 
bors, the  greater  the  reward  the  priest  expects  from 
God." 

Calumny  was  one  of  the  most  inveterate  of  the  evils 
prevalent  at  the  epoch  of  which  we  write.  It  arose  from 
the  desire  of  certain  individuals  to  insinuate  themselves 
into  the  pastor's  good  graces  and  thus  obtain  a  voice  in 
questions  relating  to  parochial  affairs.  Father  Neu- 
mann was  not  long  in  detecting  the  unchristian  spirit,  to 
counteract  which  he  invented  a  novel  though  effective 
mode  of  action.  When  he  found  himself  waited  upon  by 
such  persons,  he  usually  interrupted  their  invidious  re- 
marks with  the  words,  "  Let  us  say  the  Rosary  together 
and  then  talk  the  matter  over,"  and,  suiting  the  action  to 
the  word,  down  he  would  kneel  and  give  out  the  prayers. 
Few  could  stand  such  a  test,  nor  did  they  care  for  a 
repetition  of  the  scene. 

.  Although  our  young  priest  had  from  his  earliest  child- 
hood given  proof  of  the  angelic  soul  within;  though  he 
so  strictly  guarded  his  senses  against  even  the  approach 
of  evil;  though  naturally  silent  and  through  principle 
averse  to  all  unnecessary  conversation,  particularly 
with  the  opposite  sex,  yet  did  the  foul  fiend  dare,  to 
attack  his  reputation  through  the  invidious  tongue  of 
the  slanderer. 

During  the  first  year  of  his  ministry  at  Williamsville 
Father  Neumann  lodged  with  a  family  by  the  name  of 
Wirtz.  Unavoidable  as  was  this  arrangement,  it  aroused 
the  jealousy  of  one  who  thought  "  His  Reverence"  might 
just  as  well  become  a  member  of  his  own  family  and  let 
him  enjoy  the  benefit  accruing  from  the  same,  viz.,  the 
weekly  board.  Not  being  able  to  attain  his  ends,  envy 
and  avarice  incited  the  miserable  man  to  spread  a  base 
calumny  against  the  innocent  young  priest.  "Wirtz," 
he  said,  "employs  a  young  maid-servant.  It  is  not 
proper  that  a  priest  should  lodge  in  the  same  house  with 


1 86  Life  of  Bishop  Neiimann. 

her."  And  he  threw  out  sundry  hints  that  matters  were 
not  just  what  they  ought  to  be,  etc.  The  vile  suspicion 
was  soon  noised  around  and,  through  the  market-dealers, 
found  its  way  to  Buffalo.  Certain  individuals  affected  to 
credit  the  report,  and  resolved  to  hold  a  meeting  to  sift 
the  affair.  The  honorable  assembly  was  convened  in  a 
tavern,  and  it  was  unanimously  agreed  that  either  the 
priest  or  the  servant  should  procure  other  lodgings. 
These  men  carried  their  audacity  so  far  as  to  cite  Father 
Neumann  to  appear  in  their  presence.  He  obeyed  the 
summons,  and  was  not  a  little  astonished  to  find  himself 
the  subject  of  such  gossip.  When  informed  of  the  reso- 
lution adopted  by  the  august  assembly,  his  only  reply 
was  a  withering  smile  which  quite  disconcerted  his  would- 
be  judges.  It  was  not  long  before  his  malicious  calum- 
niator found  himself  the  object  of  universal  contempt. 
Father  Neumann  alone,  the  innocent  victim  of  his  in- 
vidious accusations,  pitied  the  poor  wretch  and  tried  to 
shield  his  reputation.  When  fifteen  years  after,  clothed 
with  the  episcopal  dignity,  he  visited  this  same  locality, 
he  made  special  inquiries  for  him  and  his  family. 

At  Lancaster,  also,  the  gentle  and  retiring  priest  found 
enemies,  and  once  he  was  even  threatened  with  assassi- 
nation. A  drover  addicted  to  liquor  followed  him  one 
day  gun  in  hand,  and  crying  out,  "  You  cursed  priest, 
if  you  do  not  turn  round  and  answer  me,  I'll  shoot  you 
down!"  Father  Neumann,  for  whom  death  had  no  ter- 
rors, quietly  pursued  his  way,  allowing  no  threats  to  deter 
him  from  the  discharge  of  his  duty.  The  same  lawless 
fellow  made,  some  time  after,  a  similar  attack  upon 
Father  Neumann's  successor,  this  time  brandishing  a  huge 
knife.  But  a  log  of  wood,  hurled  at  him  in  the  priest's 
defence,  brought  him  to  his  senses.  Had  it  struck  him, 
it  would  have  put  an  end  to  his  disorderly  career;  a  sud- 
den spring  aside  alone  saved  him. 

At  another  of  his  stations  one  of  the  parishioners 
brought  Father  Neumann  an  ostensorium,  saying  that  he 


Trials  and  Sufferings  in  the  Ministry.    187 

would  present  it  to  the  church  provided  the  latter  were 
named  after  his  patron.  Father  Neumann  represented  to 
him  the  impropriety  of  giving  the  church  a  title  other 
than  that  which  the  majority  of  the  congregation  de- 
sired. Such  reasoning  was  unintelligible  to  the  owner 
of  the  ostensorium,  who,  however,  offered  to  lend  the 
vessel  for  use  on  the  approaching  Feast  of  Corpus  Christi. 
To  this  Father  Neumann  replied  that  his  offer  could  not 
be  accepted  unless  the  ostensorium  became  the  property 
of  the  church.  But  again  the  stipulation  was  laid  down 
that  the  sacred  edifice  should  be  named  after  the  donor's 
patron;  and  so  the  matter  ended  by  the  ostensorium's 
remaining  in  the  hands  of  its  unreasonable  owner.  Some 
time  after  this,  as  Father  Neumann  was  passing  the 
man's  house,  he  was  assailed  by  a  shower  of  mud  and 
stones.  Like  others  who  had  offended  against  the  good 
young  priest,  this  poor  deluded  fellow  and  his  family 
were  special  objects  of  inquiry  when  Father  Neumann 
visited  those  parts  as  Bishop.  He  even  bestowed  upon 
them  the  flattering  appellation  of  friends. 

Another  fruitful  source  of  annoyance  to  Father  Neu- 
mann in  his  early  missionary  days  were  the  drinking- 
saloons.  Wherever  a  Catholic  church  was  erected,  in  its 
vicinity  immediately  arose  a  drinking-saloon,  in  which 
noisy  merriment  prevailed  with  numerous  offences  against 
God.  Father  Neumann  could  not  tolerate  such  disorders. 
He  admonished,  he  warned;  but  all  in  vain.  His  remon- 
strances were  answered  with  the  threat  that  a  ball  should 
inaugurate  the  next  holy-day.  In  his  sermon  on  the 
Sunday  preceding  the  said  festival,  he  impressed  upon 
his  people  the  impropriety,  the  scandal,  the  sinfulness  of 
such  a  proceeding,  declaring  that  if  these  amusements 
did  not  cease,  if  they  did  not  give  up  their  present  inten- 
tion, he  would  abandon  the  parish  rather  than  counte- 
nance such  an  offe.nce  against  God.  The  people,  how- 
ever, trusting  to  the  well-known  indulgence  of  their 
pastor,  would  not  relinquish  their  design. 


1 88  Life  of  BisJiop  Neumann. 

The  holy-day  dawned.  Extensive  preparations  had  been 
made  for  the  iniquitous  amusement,  and  all  were  on  the 
qui  vive  as  to  how  the  day  would  end.  Andbehold!  after 
Mass  that  morning  a  wagon  was  seen  in  waiting  before 
the  pastor's  residence.  The  driver,  anon-Catholic,  being 
questioned  as  to  what  it  all  meant,  answered  frankly: 
"You  must  have  offended  your  pastor  very  grievously. 
He  intends  to  leave  you."  And  now  from  all  sides 
flocked  men  and  women  around  the  house.  Father  Neu- 
mann had  packed  his  books  and  other  effects,  and  was 
ready  to  start.  To  every  appeal  to  the  contrary  he  replied, 
in  a  decided  tone:  "I  have  implored  you,  I  have  warned 
you  to  remove  this  scandal.  You  would  not  listen  to  me. 
I  will  no  longer  be  your  pastor."  The  poor  people  en- 
treated him  to  remain,  promising  that  the  saloon-keeper 
should  give  up  the  projected  ball.  The  latter,  hearing 
of  what  was  taking  place  at  the  pastoral  residence,  has- 
tened in  dismay  to  ask  "  His  Reverence's"  pardon,  but 
begging  him  at  the  same  time  to  sanction  the  ball  just 
this  once,  as  he  had  made  quite  an  outlay  in  preparing 
for  it.  But  their  otherwise  gentle  and  condescending 
pastor  was  firm  in  his  decision;  there  could  be  no 
compromise  in  a  question  involving  sin.  "  No,"  he 
replied,  "  it  must  not  be.  I  warned  you  in  time,  and 
now  you  must  abide  by  my  decision."  The  man  was 
obliged  to  yield,  and  soon  after  he  left  the  neighbor- 
hood. 

Such  encounters  pained  Father  Neumann's  kind,  be- 
nevolent heart,  though  they  failed  to  weaken  his  zeal  for 
the  honor  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls.  He  was 
simply  indefatigable  in  the  enormous  amount  of  work 
entailed  upon  him  by  the  immense  district  under  his 
care.  He  instructed  the  children,  administered  the  Sac- 
raments, attended  the  sick,  and  built  churches  and 
schools.  Taught  by  his  own  experience,  his  good 
friend  Father  Pax  often  admonished  him  to  spare  him- 
self a  little.  But  Father  Neumann  would  smilingly  re- 


Trials  and  Sufferings  in  the  Ministry.    189 

ply  to  such  exhortations,  "Oh,  I'm  a  strong  Bohemian 
mountain-boy  !  It  will  not  hurt  me." 

Long  years  after,  Father  Pax  used  to  delight  in  recall- 
ing the  sayings  and  doings  of  his  young  friend  and 
companion,  the  sharer  of  his  labors  in  the  painful 
beginnings  of  the  western  New  York  missions.  More 
than  once  he  spoke  as  follows:  "  It  was  something 
truly  extraordinary  to  see  that  learned,  pious,  and  amiable 
young  priest,  a  little  valise  in  his  hand  or  a  bundle, 
containing  the  requisites  for  saying  holy  Mass,  over  his 
shoulder,  courageously  journeying  from  one  to  another 
of  his  different  stations.  Sometimes  the  bad  roads  or 
the  deep  snow  rendered  it  impossible  to  procure  a  con- 
veyance; and  very  often,  too,  he  would  not  use  one,  as 
he  thought  himself  strong  enough  to  go  on  foot." 

How  many  interesting  and  edifying  incidents  must 
have  occurred  during  these  journeyings  of  the  faith- 
ful priest!  But,  unfortunately,  few  have  come  to  our 
knowledge,  as  Father  Neumann  carefully  avoided  every- 
thing in  conversation  that  could,  even  in  a  small  de- 
gree, redound  to  his  own  praise;  and  in  his  journal 
we  find  only  the  record  of  what  he  considered  his  infi- 
delities to  God. 

One  Sunday  he  arrived  at  Lancaster  pale  as  death 
and  fainting  from  exhaustion.  He  was  obliged  to  go  to 
bed  immediately.  He  had  said  Mass  that  morning  at  a 
distant  station,  whence,  laden  as  usual  with  altar  requi- 
sites, he  had  started  over  a  rough  road  to  say  Mass, 
preach,  etc.,  at  a  second  station  many  miles  off.  The 
tax  on  his  strength  had  been  too  severe,  and  the  condi- 
tion to  which  it  reduced  him  aroused  fears  for  tne  worst. 
A  physician  was  prompt  in  attendance,  and,  thanks  to 
his  skill  joined  to  his  patient's  natural  vigor  and  energy, 
a  few  days  set  all  things  right  again. 

About  five  miles  from  Williamsville,  on  the  road  to 
North  Bush,  lived  a  kind-hearted  gentleman  who  had 
often  been  edified  by  the  untiring  zeal  of  our  holy  mis- 


190  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

sionary.  One  stormy  day  he  saw  him  passing,  and  he 
called  out  to  him  to  come  in  and  rest  awhile.  Father 
Neumann  excused  himself,  saying  that  he  was  expected 
at  Sheldon  to  perform  a  marriage-ceremony,  and  he 
named  the  groom.  His  friend  endeavored  to  persuade 
him  not  to  put  himself  to  so  much  trouble,  not  to  pur- 
sue his  journey  in  such  weather,  assuring  him  that  it 
would  most  likely  prove  fruitless;  he  knew  the  groom  to 
be  a  lukewarm  Catholic  who  would  doubtless  have  con- 
tracted a  civil  marriage  even  before  his  arrival.  But 
Father  Neumann  would  listen  to  no  such  reasoning;  he 
hastened  on  through  wind  and  rain  to  the  performance 
of  his  duty.  What  his  friend  had  predicted  was  literally 
fulfilled.  To  Father  Neumann's  deep  mortification  and 
in  spite  of  his  earnest  admonitions,  the  marriage  had 
been  contracted  before  a  magistrate  with  as  much  pub- 
licity as  possible,  a  band  of  music  in  attendance. 

There  was  nothing  left  to  the  priest  but  to  turn  his 
back  on  the  godless  crowd  and  make  his  way  home  as 
best  he  could.  But  Divine  Providence  had  some  little 
indemnification  in  store  for  him,  some  little  part  of  the 
hundred-fold  promised  to  those  who  give  up  all  for  God. 
On  his  way  through  the  woods,  Father  Neumann  met 
some  of  the  better-disposed  of  his  flock,  who,  noticing 
the  miserable  condition  of  his  shoes,  insisted  on  his 
going  straight  to  the  shoemaker's  hard  by  and  leaving 
an  order  for  a  pair  of  good,  stout  boots.  And  so  once 
more  do  we  see  an  illustration  of  the  truth  that  all  things 
work  together  unto  good  for  them  that  love  God. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  mention  that  the  troubles  here  alluded 
to  by  Father  Neumann,  belong  rather  to  the  times  in  which  the 
various  congregations  were  formed  out  of  many  different  elements. 
Later  on,  such  difficulties  disappeared. 


Father  Neumann  and  Non-Catholics*     191 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Father  Neumann  and  Non-Catholics. 

AMONG  the  numerous  obstacles  which  sprung  up 
to  oppose  Father  Neumann's  apostolic  labors,  not 
the  least  inconsiderable  was  that  which  he  experienced 
from  the  vicinity  of  the  Mennonites,  or,  as  they  are 
known  in  this  country,  the  Anabaptists.  Their  numbers 
in  his  parishes  ran  higher  than  those  of  the  Catholics 
themselves.  Bible  in  hand,  they  went  from  house  to 
house,  singing,  praying,  and  exhorting  to  conversion. 
Many  poor,  ill-instructed  Catholics  were  thus  enticed  to 
their  meetings,  and  their  hearts  perverted.  That  our 
zealous  young  missionary  was  a  target  for  their  hatred 
and  ridicule  we  may  readily  imagine.  They  nicknamed 
him  "  the  little  priest,"  and  among  them  he  went  by  no 
other  title. 

One  Sunday  morning  in  winter,  Father  Neumann  was 
on  hts  way  to  one  of  his  most  distant  stations.  The 
snow  was  on  the  ground,  and  with  difficulty  could  a 
foot-passenger  travel  over  the  unbroken  road.  But  such 
difficulties  were  easily  surmounted  by  one  like  Father 
Neumann  whose  heart  and  soul  soared  above  exterior 
things.  On  he  plodded,  patiently  and  untiringly,  his 
bundle,  as  usual,  slung  over  his  shoulder.  Suddenly  the 
sound  of  bells  strikes  on  his  ear,  and  he  recognizes  the 
sharp  ring  of  horses'  hoofs  on  the  crisp  snow.  Not 
many  moments  after,  a  well-filled  sleigh  dashes  past 
him,  and  then  comes  to  a  sudden  stand-still. 

"Where  are  you  going,  little  priest?"  cries  a  cheery 
voice. 

"To  my  station  at ,"  answered  Father  Neumann, 

the  "little  priest"  addressed. 


192  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

"Jump  in  with  your  load,  and  ride  with  us  as  far  as 
our  church.  It  is  just  on  your  road." 

Father  Neumann  graciously  accepted  the  kind  invita- 
tion, and  took  the  seat  offered  him.  The  sleigh  belonged 
to  a  Baptist  minister  who  with  his  family  was  on  his 
way,  as  we  have  seen,  to  the  meeting-house.  Father 
Neumann's  object  in  accepting  the  minister's  kindness 
was  the  hope  of  benefiting  souls,  little  dreaming  that  his 
own  conversion  was  the  motive  from  which  the  former 
acted.  But  so  it  was.  We  shall  see  how  Divine  Provi- 
dence disposed  this  apparently  casual  meeting  for  Its 
own  wise  ends. 

No  sooner  was  the  sleigh  again  bounding  over  the 
smooth  snow,  than  its  fanatical  occupants  opened  their 
battery  upon  the  "  little  priest;"  each  vied  with  the 
other  in  well-meant  efforts  to  enlighten  what  they  deemed 
his  spiritual  darkness.  They  pitied  him  because,  as  they 
said  in  sympathizing  tones,  he  was  laboring  in  vain, 
toiling  on  foot,  bearing  a  heavy  load  for  miles,  cheerless 
and  alone;  whereas,  if  he  were  a  Baptist  preacher,  he 
might  have  his  own  conveyance,  might  lead  a  comfort- 
able, easy  life,  with  a  loving  family  to  receive  him  when 
he  returned  home,  etc.,  etc.  "  Besides,"  they  trium- 
phantly added,  "we  have  the  true  religion,  we  have  the 
Holy  Ghost!" 

Father  Neumann,  though  inwardly  amused,  had  all 
this  time  maintained  profound  silence.  His  opponents 
were  highly  elated,  judging  from  his  manner  their  cause 
as  good  as  won.  At  the  mention  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
however,  their  wished-for  convert  took  up  the  word  and 
asked  innocently,  "  Tell  me  how  I  also  can  be  enlight- 
ened. How  can  I  receive  the  true  religion  ?" 

The  enlightened  comforted  him  with  the  assurance  that 
their  ministers  would  fully  satisfy  him.  Finally,  it  was 
agreed  that  on  a  certain  day  they  would  assemble  at  the 
house  of  one  of  their  number  and  discuss  matters  pub- 
licly. 


Father  Neumann  and  Non-Catholics.      193 

Father  Neumann  insisted  upon  the  necessity  of  ap- 
pointing some  one,  agreeable  to  both  parties,  umpire,  to 
whose  decision  all  would  submit.  Accordingly,  to  this 
office  an  aged  and  highly  esteemed  lawyer,  a  man  who 
professed  no  form  of  religion,  was  named.  His  appoint- 
ment gave  general  satisfaction.  On  that  very  day, 
Sunday,  upon  which  the  above  incident  transpired, 
the  rumor  spread  like  wild-fire  that  the  Catholic  priest 
was  about  to  turn  Baptist.  Many  even  among  the 
Catholics  gave  credence  to  the  report,  as  is  proved  by 
the  fact  that  one  man  was  so  enraged  by  what  he 
heard  that  he  lay  in  wait  with  a  loaded  pistol  for  the 
pastor's  return.  But  Divine  Providence  interposed  to 
avert  from  both  the  threatened  calamity;  for  Father 
Neumann,  without  any  special  reason  for  it,  went  home 
by  another  route.  He  informed  his  parishioners  of  the 
projected  conference,  and  requested  their  prayers  for 
the  triumph  of  Holy  Church. 

The  looked-for  day  at  last  arrived,  and,  at  the  hour 
appointed,  the  ministers  with  their  followers  assembled. 
Then  came  Father  Neumann,  attended  by  several  of  the 
most  prominent  Catholics.  The  umpire  took  his  chair, 
and  proceedings  began.  Father  Neumann  opened  the 
discussion  by  inquiring  upon  what  authority  his  oppo- 
nents rested  their  religious  belief. 

"  Upon  the  authority  of  the  Bible,"  was  the  answer. 

Question — "Who  wrote  the  Bible?" 

Answer — "The  Holy  Ghost." 

Question — "  In  what  language  and  in  what  edition  ?" 

Answer — "  In  all  languages  and  in  every  edition." 

Then  Father  Neumann,  making  a  summary  of  the 
above,  spoke  as  follows: 

"  The  Holy  Ghost  cannot  contradict  Himself.  If  your 
Bibles  do  not  perfectly  agree,  they  cannot  have  been 
written  by  the  Holy  Ghost;  consequently  the  authority 
of  your  religious  belief  is  not  divine." 

Here  the  preachers  asserted  with  one  voice  that  their 


194  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Bible  was  the  same  in  all  languages;  that  different  edi- 
tions introduced  no  change.  Then  Father  Neumann 
requested  several  Bibles  to  be  handed  to  him,  from  each 
of  which  he  read  a  few  passages.  The  sense  of  these 
passages  differed  in  each  rendition,  though  the  heretics 
obstinately  maintained  that  it  was  not  so.  An  appeal 
was  made  to  the  chosen  umpire,  who  frankly  owned  that 
the  passages  in  question  differed  so  much  from  one 
another  that  the  author  of  them  could  not  be  looked 
upon  as  worthy  of  belief. 

Changing  their  ground,  the  preachers  now  declared 
that  they  were  enlightened  by  the  Holy  Spirit;  that  He 
inspired  them  with  what  they  ought  to  believe,  and 
taught  them  how  to  interpret  the  Sacred  Scriptures. 
Father  Neumann  replied  by  warning  them  against  the 
spirit  by  which  they  thought  themselves  enlightened, 
quoting  several  instances  in  which  the  spirit  of  darkness 
in  the  form  of  an  angel  of  light  had  deluded  the  minds 
of  men. 

"  If  you  are  enlightened  by  the  Holy  Ghost,"  said  he, 
"  where  are  your  miracles  ?" 

To  this  question  they  answered  by  another:  "And 
can  you  work  miracles  ?" 

"  Most  assuredly,"  said  Father  Neumann,  "  I  can  work 
miracles.  At  every  Mass  I  celebrate,  at  every  absolution 
I  gi\ne  in  the  confessional,  at  every  exorcism  of  the  evil 
one,  I  work  miracles.  The  Catholic  priest  can  and  does 
work  miracles  on  these  and  any  other  proper  occasions. 
Now  tell  me,  if  you  have,  as  you  say,  the  Holy  Ghost, 
ought  you  not  all  to  agree  in  your  religious  belief  ?" 

"We  ought,"  was  the  answer. 

Here  Father  Neumann  convicted  them  of  inconsis- 
tency, showed  them  the  glaring  contradiction  between 
their  theory  and  practice,  and  referred  to  the  innumer- 
able variations  which  Protestantism  had  assumed  and 
was  daily  assuming. 

His  opponents,  confounded  and  ashamed,  endeavored 


Father  Neumann  and  Non-Catholics.      195 

to  conceal  their  chagrin;  and  one  of  them,  bolder  than 
his  brethren,  boasted  of  his  ability  to  prove  to  "  the  little 
priest"  that  he  was  enlightened  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 

"Proceed,  then,"  said  Father  Neumann.  "But  first 
answer  me  one  question.  Does  the  Holy  Ghost  dwell  in 
you  ?" 

"Most  undoubtedly!"  was  the  cool  reply. 

"Prove  it,  my  friend,"  returned  Father  Neumann. 

"  My  whole  life  proves  it,"  began  the  preacher,  with  an 
air  of  righteous  assurance.  "  Once  I  was  a  sinful  man. 
I  used  to  steal  my  neighbors'  horses  and  cows;  I  often 
cheated  them  in  many  other  ways.  But  since  my  conver- 
sion, I  have  been  a  changed  man." 

Father  Neumann  here  turned  to  the  assembly  and, 
with  a  twinkle  of  amusement  in  his  eye,  asked  : 

"  My  friends,  you  have  just  heard  one  of  your  preach- 
ers confessing  his  past  delinquencies.  He  assures  us 
that  he  once  cheated  and  stole,  etc.  Now  can  any  of 
you  inform  me  whether  he  ever  made  restitution  for  his 
ill-gotten  goods  ?" 

"  No,  no!"  shouted  a  chorus  of  voices.    "  He  never  did!" 

"  Then,"  asked  the  priest,  highly  amused,  "  is  his  con- 
version a  genuine  one  ?" 

"  No,  no,  no!"  resounded  from  all  sides.  "  He  is  the 
same  old  rogue  that  he  ever  was!" 

The  reader  is  free  to  imagine  the  ludicrous  effect 
produced  by  this  unexpected  conclusion  of  the  religious 
debate.  Filled  with  shame,  the  disputants  slunk  away 
from  the  hall,  one  to  meet  an  engagement,  another  to 
return  to  his  sick  child,  etc.,  and  Father  Neumann  and 
his  friends  soon  found  themselves  alone  with  the  umpire. 
The  latter  shook  hands  with  the  victorious  party,  laugh- 
ingly congratulating  them  on  their  triumph;  whilst  the 
preachers  had  nothing  to  bring  forward  in  extenuation 
of  their  defeat  excepting  that  "  the  little  priest"  was  too 
shrewd,  too  cunning,  had  too  much  worldly  wisdom  in 
him.  Religion  must  be  pure. 


196  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Though  vanquished  in  argument,  the  heretics  did  not 
return  to  that  unity  from  which  their  forefathers  had  un- 
happily strayed.  Pride  closed  the  avenues  to  so  great  a 
grace,  but  thenceforth  their  fanatical  attacks  upon  Father 
Neumann  and  his  flock  ceased.  One  blessed  result  of 
the  conference  was  the  return  of  the  poor  deluded  Catho- 
lics whom  the  hope  of  worldly  advantages  had  been 
mainly  instrumental  in  seducing  from  the  truth.  Their 
repentance  was  sincere,  and  gladly  did  they  find  them- 
selves once  more  in  the  fold  of  Christ. 

From  a  remark  in  one  of  his  letters  to  a  friend  we 
may  gather  Father  Neumann's  opinion  of  his  opponents' 
argumentative  abilities: 

"How  I  wish  B 's  admirers  could  dispute  for  a 

short  time  with  our  American  heretics!  It  would  be  the 
very  best  means  of  removing  his  doubts.  As  soon  as  a 
man  separates  from  the  Church  and  her  doctrines,  even 
in  one  point,  he  becomes  unreasonable,  illogical,  falls 
into  doubt,  and  ends  by  obstinate  heresy. 

"As  regards  Protestantism,  I  must  say  that  I  have 
been  undeceived.  I  used  to  think  that  its  splitting  up 
into  innumerable  forms  had  generated  coldness  and  in- 
difference; but  it  is  not  so.  Their  noisy  preaching  in 
the  streets  and  public  places,  the  obtrusiveness  of  those 
who  distribute  Bibles,  their  ridiculous  prophecies  re- 
specting the  Day  of  Judgment,  etc.,  amaze  us  Catholics. 
If  one  enters  a  Methodist  meeting-house  during  religious 
services,  one  might  believe  himself  transported  to  the 
times  of  Elias  and  the  priests  of  Baal.  All  are  praying 
aloud,  though  not  in  concert.  One  shouts,  another 
screams;  some  weep,  some  sing;  whilst  others,  turning 
deadly  pale,  fall  to  the  floor,  foam  at  the  mouth,  groan 
as  if  in  agony,  roll  about  convulsively,  having,  as  they 
blasphemously  assert,  received  the  Holy  Ghost.  It 
would  be  worth  while  to  advise  our  European  sceptics 
to  attend  one  of  these  sensational  meetings.  They 
would,  without  doubt,  carry  away  a  belief  in  the  exist- 


Father  Neumann  and  Non-Catholics.      197 

ence  of  the  devil.  That  the  Catholic  Church  alone  is 
One,  Holy,  Catholic,  and  Apostolic  is  convincingly  brought 
home  to  our  Catholics  here,  for  the  truth  enters  both  by 
eyes  and  ears." 

Father  Neumann's  fervent  prayers  for  the  conversion 
of  infidels  and  heretics  were  productive  of  a  rich  harvest 
of  souls.  God  granted  him  the  consolation  of  leading 
many  a  wandering  sheep  back  to  the  fold.  If  he  hap- 
pened to  hear  of  some  poor  apostate  Catholics  among 
the  Protestants  of  his  locality,  his  heart  was  torn  with 
anguish,  and  he  redoubled  his  prayers  and  penances  in 
their  behalf. 

"My  God,  my  God,"  he  cried,  "sanctify  me,  that  I 
may  become  a  fit  instrument  of  Thy  graces  and  mercies 
to  the  souls  Thou  hast  confided  to  me!  If  Thou  seest 
that  success  will  make  me  vain,  do  not,  I  beseech  Thee, 
on  that  account  allow  me  to  fail.  Humble  me  in  some 
other  way,  but  do  not  punish  me  through  my  parishion- 
ers." 

Sometimes  his  journal  speaks  of  whole  families  under 
instruction,  either  for  baptism  or  reception  into  the 
Church.  Here  are  some  lines  which  initiate  us  into  the 
secret  of  his  success: 

"  The  recitation  of  the  Rosary  for  my  stray  sheep  is 
always  productive  of  abundant  fruit.  I  will  redouble 
my  zeal  in  this  sweet  and  efficacious  devotion." 

To  prayer  Father  Neumann  united  study.  One  of  his 
resolutions  of  this  period  was  to  prepare  more  diligently 
for  his  sermons,  hoping  thereby  more  easily  to  convince 
heretics  of  the  truth. 

His  longing  for  the  salvation  of  souls  was  so  intense 
that  he  offered  himself  a  victim  to  the  justice  of  Almighty 
God,  being  willing  to  suffer  and  die  for  this  end.  We 
read  in  his  journal,  under  date  of  September  14,  1836: 

"To-day  has  been  a  very  painful  one  to  me.  I  have 
heard  of  the  apostasy  of  one  of  my  parishioners.  My 
heart  is  pierced  with  sorrow.  Lord  Jesus,  have  mercy! 


1 98  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Ah,  permit  not  that  any  one  of  those  whom  Thou  hast 
entrusted  to  me  should  be  lost!  O  my  Jesus,  I  will  pray, 
fast,  suffer,  and,  with  the  help  of  Thy  grace,  sacrifice  life 
itself!  Lord,  endue  my  words  with  power  and  unction 
that  they  may  glorify  the  truth!" 

Almighty  God  accepted  the  magnanimous  offering  of 
His  faithful  servant;  for  unspeakable  were  the  mental 
tortures  he  endured  to  procure  the  grace  of  truth  and 
faith  for  his  flock.  The  same  day  on  which  his  heart 
bled  over  the  miserable  defection  of  the  poor  soul  men- 
tioned above,  he  had  the  ineffable  happiness  of  receiving 
back  into  the  fold  one  dead  to  the  faith  for  years. 

On  the  evening  of  a  day  on  which  he  had  administered 
the  Sacraments  to  the  sick  or  dying,  he  always  prayed 
especially  for  the  sufferer.  We  learn  this  practice  from 
the  lines  found  in  his  journal: 

"  O  Lord  God,  Heavenly  Father,  grant  to  my  sick 
children  a  pure  and  heart-felt  love  of  Thee!  Give  them 
contrition,  patience,  and,  above  all,  heavenly  aspirations." 

Sick-calls  at  night  were  frequent,  sometimes  from  a 
distance  of  ten  or  fifteen  miles.  His  friends  at  last  in- 
terposed, and  begged  the  people  to  limit  such  calls,  if 
possible,  to  the  daytime.  Mr.  Schmidt,  at  whose  house 
he  lodged  fora  time,  persuaded  the  young  pastor  to  ride 
when  the  distance  was  great,  and  furnished  him  with  a 
horse  for  that  purpose.  Now,  Father  Neumann,  as  we 
know,  was  no  cavalier.  Many  a  mile  have  we  seen  him 
journeying  with  no  other  conveyance  than  the  "  apostolic 
horses"  provided  him  by  nature.  His  was  a  life  per- 
fectly modelled  upon  that  of  the  Divine  Preacher  who, 
footsore  and  weary,  crossed  mountain  and  valley  in  the 
hallowed  land  of  Judea  when  He,  too,  went  about  His 
"Father's  business."  The  first  time,  therefore,  that 
Father  Neumann  mounted  his  spirited  young  horse,  a 
groom  had  to  lead  the  animal  by  the  bridle.  On  another 
occasion,  when  about  to  mount,  Father  Neumann  was 
exposed  to  imminent  peril.  He  thrust  his  foot  into  the 


Father  Neumann  and  Non-Catholics.      199 

wrong  stirrup,  and  that  so  far  that  it  was  impossible  for 
him  to  withdraw  it  without  assistance.  Meanwhile  the 
animal  started,  and,  seeing  that  he  was  on  the  point  of 
running  away,  Father  Neumann  flung  himself  into  the 
saddle,  when  lo!  he  found  himself  seated  backward. 
To  secure  his  seat,  he  grasped  the  saddle  with  both 
hands.  Off  went  the  horse  with  his  unskilful  rider;  and 
badly  enough  might  it  have  fared  with  our  reverend 
Gilpin,  had  not  some  men  working  near  by  run  to  the 
rescue.  This  horse  seemed  to  be  instinctively  aware  of 
his  master's  inexperience,  and  to  take  a  malicious  delight 
in  trying  his  patience.  Father  Neumann  was  low  in 
stature;  consequently,  to  mount  and  dismount,  he  was 
obliged  to  make  use  of  some  neighboring  fence  or  log. 
It  often  happened,  especially  on  muddy  roads,  that  the 
horse  would  plant  himself  obstinately  in  the  middle  of  a 
swamp  and  refuse  to  move  a  step  until  his  unfortunate 
rider  had  dismounted.  Then  he  would  advance  nimbly 
enough;  but  let  the  master  again  seat  himself  in  the 
saddle  and,  ten  to  one,  the  same  tricks  would  recom- 
mence. Poor  Father  Neumann  was  often  forced  to  foot 
it  by  the  animal's  side,  his  bundle  over  his  shoulder. 
But  no  such  freaks  could  disconcert  the  patient  priest. 
In  his  holy  simplicity,  he  used  to  praise  the  tantalizing 
beast,  calling  it  his  travelling  companion,  and  sharing 
with  it  his  bread,  apples,  etc. 

One  day  a  blacksmith  was  witness-  of  the  animal's 
capers.  He  prepared  to  administer  a  sound  beating  as 
a  specific  to  its  obstinacy,  but  Father  Neumann  hastily 
interposed:  "  My  horse  and  I  agree  very  well  together. 
I  cannot  let  him  be  punished." 

"  He  needs  to  be  broken  in,"  said  the  man.  "  Let  me 
train  him  for  you;"  and  up  he  sprung  to  the  animal's 
back. 

Trot,  trot,  went  the  horse  for  a  few  paces,  and  then 
deposited  his  valiant  rider  on  the  ground,  where  he  lay 
groaning  from  a  broken  arm. 


2OO  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Great  as  was  Father  Neumann's  patience  with  his  freak- 
ish companion,  yet  a  day  dawned  on  which  it  was  put  to 
a  severe  test.  Father  Neumann  was,  as  we  have  before 
stated,  a  lover  of  Nature  in  all  her  forms,  and  a  success- 
ful botanical  student.  He  had  long  been  in  quest  of  a 
certain  flower  which  at  last,  in  one  of  his  rides  through 
the  woods,  he  discovered.  To  get  off  his  horse,  make  a 
foot-path  through  the  swamp  by  means  of  some  logs, 
was  a  labor  fully  repaid  by  the  gratification  he  felt  when 
gently  holding  the  beautiful  object  of  his  exertions  be- 
tween his  finger  and  thumb.  Slowly  he  returned  to  where 
the  horse  stood.  For  an  instant  he  paused  intent  on  his 
examination  of  sepal  and  petal,  stamen  and  pistil,  when 
lo!  it  was  suddenly  snatched  from  his  hand,  and,  looking 
up,  he  beheld  the  horse's  head  over  his  shoulder,  and  the 
animal  in  the  act  of  swallowing  it.  Immense  was  his 
loss;  but  more  quickly  than  the  theft  was  committed 
went  the  fiat  from  the  botanist's  heart  up  to  heaven.  In 
the  least  as  in  the  greatest  events  of  life,  our  saintly 
priest  recognized  the  finger  of  God.  He  felt  sure  that 
this  little  sacrifice  was  the  one  demanded  of  him  at 
that  moment.  In  after-years  Father  Neumann  often  re- 
curred to  this  incident,  and  the  remembrance  of  his 
horse's  pranks  never  failed  to  amuse  him. 


Father  Neumanns  Missionary  Plans.     201 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Father  Neumann's  Missionary  Plans. 

T7ATHER  NEUMANN  had  formed  broad  plans  for 
±  the  missions  of  America.  One  of  his  favorite 
projects,  even  while  a  seminarian,  was  the  establish- 
ment of  a  mission-house  in  Bohemia  especially  devoted 
to  the  propagation  of  Catholicity  in  America.  Under 
the  direction  of  Rev.  Father  Dichtl,  such  of  his  fellow- 
students  as  were  animated  by  a  similar  spirit  were  to 
open  this  institution  so  beneficial  to  the  work  of  the  mis- 
sions, and  by  funds  raised  in  Bohemia  support  the  priests 
who  would  generously  devote  themselves  to  the  service 
of  poor  abandoned  souls. 

Several  of  his  letters  to  Father  Dichtl  and  other 
friends  bear  witness  to  Father  Neumann's  adherence  to 
these  views,  which,  indeed,  seem  only  to  have  gained  fresh 
strength  from  his  practical  knowledge  of  missionary  life. 
On  June  4,  1837,  he  wrote  in  his  journal: 

"Thanks  be  to  God!  the  obstacles  to  our  missions  in 
America  augur  good  results.  Our  difficulties  will  vanish 
when  God,  as  I  sincerely  trust  He  will,  comes  to  our 
aid.  If  we  resolutely  set  to  work,  resigned  to  the  dis- 
positions of  Divine  Providence,  we  shall  soon  attain  the 
end  of  our  desires. 

"  Doubtless  you  would  like  to  hear  my  reasons  for 
these  fond  hopes.  Whilst  at  Munich  I  was  informed  by 
a  priest  from  Philadelphia  that  my  admission  into  that 
diocese  was  highly  improbable;  so  I  at  once  resolved  to 
go  among  the  Indians.  God,  however,  disposed  other- 
wise. I  became  a  missionary  in  the  diocese  of  New 
York,  and  was  sent  to  the  Germans  living  in  the  district 


202  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

between  Lake  Erie  and  Lake  Ontario.  Thus  I  was 
forced  to  abandon  my  design,  if  not  forever,  at  least  for 
the  time  being.  But  now  I  understand  that  this  arrange- 
ment was  for  me  the  very  best  means  of  attaining  my 
object,  and  I  have  constantly  endeavored  to  learn  the 
views  of  the  various  Bishops  in  the  United  States.  For 
the  Indians  in  the  western  part  of  the  Union  much  has 
been  done.  By  a  decree  of  the  Holy  See  the  missions 
of  this  immense  territory  have  been  entrusted  to  the  care 
of  the  Jesuits,  though  other  laborers  are  not  excluded. 
I  now  live  scarcely  half  a  day's  journey  from  Upper 
Canada.  I  often  inquire  of  the  French  Canadians  who 
come  here  to  make  their  Easter  confession  concerning 
the  state  of  religion  among  them.  The  account  they 
give  is  not  cheering.  True,  there  is  a  flourishing  semi- 
nary at  Montreal,  but  the  labors  of  the  Bishops  are 
mostly  restricted  to  the  French  and  Irish.  On  the 
northern  banks  of  Lake  Huron  and  Lake  Superior  are 
immense  forests  peopled  by  Indians  who,  about  once  or 
twice  a  year,  are  visited  by  European  fur-traders.  Here 
is  plenty  of  work  for  the  missionary.  Our  projected 
institute,  whose  existence  I  trust  is  not  far  off,  might 
also  be  of  great  service  to  the  German  settlers.  Al- 
though I  sometimes  find  myself  in  straits  for  the  neces- 
saries of  life,  yet  I  am  quite  satisfied  that  my  district 
could  easily  support  two  or  even  three  priests.  But 
only  poor  priests,  or  those  who  are  willing  to  lead  a  hard 
life,  can  get  along  in  this  part  of  the  country.  A  per- 
manent abode  cannot  be  hoped  for;  the  priest  is  contin- 
ually on  the  go.  Should  any  of  your  confreres  be  willing 
to  devote  themselves  to  missionary  work  among  our 
northern  Indians,  they  could  not  better  prepare  for  it 
than  by  a  temporary  residence  among  our  Germans. 
The  body  develops  new  powers  of  endurance  from  ex- 
posure, fasting,  travelling,  and  other  fatiguing  exer- 
tions; one  gradually  learns  the  state  of  the  country,  the 
manners  of  the  people,  and  becomes  familiar  with  the 


Father  Neumann  s  Missionary  Plans.     203 

Indians,  whom  he  constantly  meets  roaming  about. 
Should  you,  Reverend  Father,  make  any  rules  for  the 
contemplated  society,  I  give  my  consent  to  them  in  ad- 
vance." 

In  another  letter  to  the  same  reverend  gentleman, 
Father  Neumann  says:  "  The  second  step  toward  the 
realization  of  our  plan  has,  with  God's  help,  been  made. 
I  enclose  to  you  the  written  authorization  of  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  Dubois,  of  New  York,  securing  the  reception 
into  the  diocese  of  two  or  three  zealous  priests  or  theo- 
logical students.  Nothing  is  wanting  now  except  that 
the  Holy  Ghost  should  inspire  some  of  His  servants  to 
consecrate  themselves  to  the  spread  of  the  Gospel  in 
North  America.  The  want  of  Catholic  priests  and  the 
spiritual  destitution  of  the  people  increase  from  day  to 
day.  Judging  even  from  a  human  view,  such  a  state  of 
things  must  eventually  lead  to  lamentable  results.  But 
God  is  the  support  of  His  Church.  He  will  provide  for 
her.  Much  scandal  has  been  given  in  these  parts  by 
the  arrival  of  unworthy  priests  who  come  here  merely 
to  lead  a  reckless  life  amid  the  confusion  of  heresies. 
But  the  vigilance  of  the  Bishops  over  the  teaching  and 
conduct  of  their  priests  exposes  these  wretched  crea- 
tures to  greater  opprobrium  than  they  would  be  sub- 
jected to  in  Europe,  and  so  they  hurry  off  even  before 
they  have  learned  one  word  of  English.  Other  priests, 
zealous  and  pious,  return  home  on  account  of  old  age 
or  ill-health;  others,  again,  because  of  the  corruption  of 
morals,  which  appears  to  them  incurable.  That  the 
evils  existing  among  our  people  are  very  great  is,  in- 
deed, only  too  true,  and  the  reason  of  this  is  that  many  of 
them  are  mere  adventurers,  restless  fanatics,  sighing  for 
what  they  call  liberty;  and  some  there  are  who  have  but 
narrowly  escaped  the  outstretched  arms  of  justice.  Still, 
we  must  allow  that  apostasy  from  the  faith,  considering 
the  evil  influence  everywhere  exercised  by  heretics,  is 
not  so  frequent  as  one  might  suppose;  nay,  the  number 


204  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

of  those  who  return  to  the  bosom  of  the  only  saving 
Church  balances  the  loss  sustained  by  such  defections. 
The  gain  would  surely  be  greater  if  earnest  priests  were 
more  numerous.  If,  humanly  speaking,  evils  threaten 
the  Church,  they  must  be  ascribed,  above  all,  to  the  want 
of  priests  and  the  inadequate  instruction  of  our  youth. 
The  education  of  the  latter  claims  much  of  the  mission- 
ary's time;  but  God's  assistance  is  never  wanting,  it  often 
interposes  in  ways  most  wonderful.  The  zeal  of  our 
young  Catholics  and  their  eagerness  for  knowledge  are 
simply  astonishing.  Last  year  during  my  three  weeks' 
stay  at  Williamsville  preparing  the  children  for  First 
Communion,  most  of  them  had  to  come  six  miles  to  in- 
structions, and  this  they  did  even  in  the  worst  weather. 
In  that  short  time  they  learned  not  only  the  principal 
truths  of  Christian  faith  and  morals,  but  they  made 
greater  progress  in  reading  and  writing  than  could  be 
done  in  Europe  in  many  years. 

"  The  moment  has  now  arrived  for  me  to  remind  my 
dear  friends  in  Bohemia  of  the  words  of  Jesus  Christ: 
'Go  into  the  whole  world,  and  teach  all  nations."  From 
the  seminaries  of  America  no  help  for  the  Germans  can 
yet  be  expected.  Therefore  do  I  beg  my  brethren 
who  are  resolved  to  come  to  this  country  to  do  so  at 
once,  to  hasten  to  the  assistance  of  our  militant  Church. 

If  Rev.  S ,  of  Verona;  S ,  of  Vienna;  P and 

S ,  etc.,  are  still  inclined  that  way,  I  most  earnestly 

entreat  them  to  come.  If  any  others  entertain  the  same 
desire,  I  beg  you  to  examine  whether  their  religious 
principles  agree  with  the  teachings  of  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic Church;  otherwise  it  would  be  well  for  them  to  pro- 
vide the  means  for  a  speedy  return.  If  my  petition 
meets,  as  I  hope  it  will,  a  favorable  response,  you  would 
oblige  me  by  letting  me  know  at  once.  With  the  names 
of  the  aspirants,  state  also  the  time  of  their  setting  out 
for  America." 

In  order  to  bring  about  more  surely  and  speedily  the 


Father  Neumanns  Missionary  Plans.     205 

establishment  of  the  Mission  Institute,  Father  Neumann 
also  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Reverend  Superior  of  the 
Archiepiscopal  Seminary  at  Prague.  In  it  he  says: 
"  Should  your  Reverence  find  among  our  confreres  in  the 
seminary  of  Prague  (which  I  shall  ever  remember)  one  or 
more  subjects  who,  in  childlike  faith  and  obedience  to 
Holy  Mother  Church,  desire  to  devote  themselves  to  the 
arduous  life  of  a  missionary  in  America,  I  entreat  you 
to  give  them  every  encouragement.  If  Father  Dichtl 
should  have  the  full  number  of  applicants,  you  would 
oblige  me  by  letting  me  know,  that  I  may  apply  for 
their  admission  into  the  New  York  diocese.  Right 
Rev.  John  Hughes,  Coadjutor- Bishop  of  the  diocese, 
told  me  recently  that  he  would  admit  seven  or  eight 
candidates.  It  is  not  necessary  for  them  to  speak 
either  English  or  French;  they  can  easily  learn  both 
languages  in  this  country,  and  that  very  quickly.  Good 
health  is  a  qualification  very  desirable  in  a  priest  des- 
tined for  America;  for  the  missions  entail  much  travel- 
ling, fasting,  and  preaching.  Still,  indifferent  health 
should  not  deter  any  one,  since  God  supplies  when 
strength  fails. 

"As  for  myself,  I  am  fully  satisfied  with  the  labors  of 
the  sphere  assigned  me,  for  I  came  here  to  atone  for  my 
sins  and  to  win  souls  to  God.  Nowhere,  I  think,  can  a 
better  opportunity  be  found  for  doing  both  than  here  in 
America.  May  God  grant  me  the  grace  to  discharge  my 
duties  more  worthily  than  I  now  do!" 

Here  Father  Neumann  enters  into  some  details  respect- 
ing his  missions,  and  then  continues:  "  From  all  that  I 
have  said,  you  will  easily  understand  how  much  there  is 
to  be  accomplished  here,  and  how  much  more  good 
might  be  effected  were  the  workmen  more  numerous. 
The  district,  embracing  about  five  hundred  miles  be- 
tween the  Erie  Canal  and  the  Hudson  River,  is  peopled 
by  Germans  who,  for  the  most  part,  are  destitute  of  all 
spiritual  assistance.  Coming  to  this  country  after  a 


206  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

certain  age,  a  German  scarcely  ever  learns  English. 
He  knows  not  even  how  to  bid  good-morning  in  that  lan- 
guage. The  words  of  the  Lord,  '  In  strange  tongues  I 
will  speak  to  my  people,'  are  verified  in  them.  May 
God  vouchsafe  to  hear  their  prayers,  and  send  them 
priests  of  their  own  nationality  !  Despite  their  entrea- 
ties to  that  effect,  I  can  rarely  visit  them,  as  I  am  hardly 
sufficient  for  the  wants  of  my  own  extensive  territory. 

"  The  Catholic  population  is  continually  on  the  in- 
crease; not  that  conversions  swell  our  numbers,  but  im- 
migration goes  on  rapidly.  Conversions,  however,  are 
by  no  means  rare.  Many  of  our  Catholics  are  in  ex- 
treme poverty.  They  live  in  miserable  shanties,  some 
of  which  have  not  even  the  luxury  of  a  window.  As  a 
general  thing,  chairs  and  bedsteads  are  unknown.  I 
have  seen  the  dying  stretched  on  a  bundle  of  straw  or 
moss.  To  hear  their  confessions  and  prepare  them  for 
the  Sacraments,  I  have  to  seat  myself  by  their  side  on 
the  ground.  When  the  priest  enters  an  Irishman's 
shanty,  the  whole  family,  young  and  old,  make  the  sign 
of  the  cross  and  salute  him  with,  'Welcome,  Father!' 
How  consoling  such  a  salutation  from  faithful  hearts  !" 

Animated  by  the  noblest  sentiments  of  Christian 
friendship,  Father  Neumann  invited  his  most  intimate 
friend  and  fellow-student  to  join  him  in  his  labors  for 
the  glory  of  God.  Here  are  his  words:  "  May  I  not  in- 
dulge the  hope  of  seeing  you  again,  of  seeing  you  in 
America — in  that  land  whose  name,  after  the  sweet  name 
of  Jesus,  so  often  conjured  up  the  brightest  visions  in 
the  years  we  passed  together  ?  Yes,  that  name  was  so 
dear  to  us  that  it  formed  the  theme  of  our  daily  conver- 
sation. Time  never  hung  heavily  with  us,  though  we 
constantly  interchanged  the  same  sentiments.  The  idea 
of  the  American  missions  was  at  that  time  so  closely 
interwoven  with  our  one  great  thought,  the  service  of 
God  and  our  neighbor,  that  any  other  road  leading 
thereto,  how  well  known  or  secure  soever  it  might  be, 


Father  Neumann's  Missionary  Plans.     207 

appeared  to  us  foreign  and  distasteful.  You  still  sigh, 
if  I  may  credit  your  own  words,  for  America  and  your 
friend  of  by-gone  days.  Why,  then,  do  you  not  come  ? 
Why  are  you  not  even  now  on  the  road  to  the  New 
World  ?  Of  course,  as  you  so  well  understand,  there  is 
question  of  vocation.  But  this,  I  believe,  is  not  wanting 
to  you.  Your  great  desire  to  serve  our  Holy  Church  in 
America  appears  to  me  an  undoubted  call  from  Heaven." 
As  far  as  the  present  fulfilment  of  his  ardent  desires 
was  concerned,  Father  Neumann  wrote  and  pleaded 
in  vain.  The  Missionary  Society,  whose  formation  he 
had  so  much  at  heart,  was  destined  never  to  spring  into 
existence;  moreover,  not  one  of  Father  Neumann's  for- 
mer companions  ever  found  his  way  to  the  shores  of 
America.  Several  of  them  did,  indeed,  make  some  fu- 
tile attempts  to  follow  him,  but  insurmountable  obsta- 
cles arose  to  prevent  the  realization  of  their  dream. 
Doubtless  the  vocation  for  foreign  missions  had  not 
been  vouchsafed  to  them  by  the  Lord  of  the  harvest. 
Many  of  those  designated  by  Father  Neumann  in  the 
letters  just  quoted  are  now  zealously  and  successfully 
laboring  in  their  own  country  for  the  honor  of  God  and 
the  salvation  of  souls. 


208  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
Father  Neumann's  Own  Sanctification. 

CONSCIENTIOUSLY  and  untiringly  as  Father 
V — /  Neumann  attended  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  his 
flock,  he  yet  found  time  for  his  own  sanctification.  His 
life  was  most  exemplary.  He  made  use  of  every  means 
in  his  power  to  perfect  himself  in  his  high  vocation. 
Hardships  and  journeys;  the  labors  incidental  to  so  ex- 
tensive a  parish  as  his;  the  building  of  churches  and 
schools,  to  which,  from  the  very  beginning  of  his  minis- 
try, he  energetically  devoted  himself — nothing  could  in- 
terfere with  the  one  great  object  of  his  life,  the  sanctifi- 
cation of  his  own  soul.  As  long  years  before,  in  the 
peaceful  seclusion  of  college-life,  so  now,  in  the  turmoil 
of  active  duty,  do  we  find  him  faithfully  recording  the 
various  impressions  and  emotions  of  his  interior.  His 
keeping  of  a  journal  was  no  idle  formula,  but  conscien- 
tiously, in  a  way  peculiar  to  himself,  utterly  regard- 
less of  the  revolts  of  self-love,  were  all  his  entries 
made. 

"I  feel  in  myself,"  he  writes,  "an  extreme  desire  to 
love  Jesus  Christ  ardently,  to  be  closely  united  to  Him. 
The  daily  reception  of  His  Sacred  Body  and  Blood  ought 
to  bring  with  it  immense  graces  to  my  soul.  But  I  find 
that  I  am  not  sufficiently  watchful  over  my  eyes;  I  am 
indolent  in  the  discharge  of  my  duty;  I  say  my  Office 
with  distractions.  Every  Saturday  at  five,  I  will  recite 
the  Litany  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  in  church.  O  my 
dearest  Jesus,  I  can  now  visit  Thee  daily,  as  often  as  I 
choose.  I  receive  Thee  so  frequently;  I  receive  Thee 
every  day — yes,  even  twice  on  Sundays  and  holy-days. 


Father  Neumanns  Own  Sanctification.    209 

Oh,  help  me  to  grow  in  virtue,  since  I  am  so  near  to  the 
fountain  of  living  waters!" 

Here  are  some  resolutions  made  about  this  period. 
How  clear  an  insight  they  afford  into  the  interior  state 
of  him  who  formed  them! 

"  i.  I  will  always  say  my  Office  kneeling  and  as 
devoutly  as  possible.  I  will  also  try  to  say  it  at  the 
stated  hours. 

"  2.  I  will  be  very  exact  in  making  my  preparation 
for  Mass  and  my  thanksgiving  after  it. 

"  3.  Every  day  after  dinner  I  will  make  a  visit  to  the 
Most  Blessed  Sacrament. 

"4.  I  will  never  eat  out  of  mealtime,  which  will  be  at 
noon  and  in  the  evening. 

"  5.  I  will  prepare  more  carefully  for  my  sermons. 

"  6.  I  will  speak  only  through  necessity  or  for  the 
greater  glory  of  God. 

"  7.  I  will  watch  over  my  thoughts  and  senses.  My 
God,  help  me  through  the  intercession  of  Mary  and  all 
the  saints.  Amen." 

That  his  prayers  might  be  more  efficacious,  our  good 
young  Father  addressed  himself  to  those  saints  who  were 
characterized  here  on  earth  by  their  intense  love  for  God. 
"  My  dearest  Lord  and  Master,"  he  one  day  exclaimed, 
"  behold  my  poor  crushed  heart !  Oh,  permit  me  to  ad- 
vance on  the  road  of  perfection,  that  road  which  leads 
to  Thee,  my  dearly  beloved  Saviour,  my  only  Treasure  ! 
O  my  Jesus,  Spouse  of  St.  Teresa,  the  thought  of  whom 
fills  me  with  a  longing  desire  for  Thy  love,  delay  no 
longer  to  shower  upon  my  parched  soul  the  consolations 
of  Thy  love  !  St.  Teresa,  whose  heart  was  so  inflamed 
with  the  love  of  Thy  Divine  Spouse,  pray  for  me,  that 
God  may  purify,  justify,  sanctify  me  !  Behold  my  de- 
sires to  love  Jesus,  to  give  myself  entirely  to  Him!" 

His  sins,  as  he  denominated  those  small  imperfections 
from  which  even  the  "just  man"  is  not  wholly  free,  were 
to  Father  Neumann  a  source  of  constant  and  bitter  self- 


2io  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

recrimination.  God  alone  knows  the  penances  performed, 
the  tears  shed  in  expiation  of  them.  Weighed  down  by 
the  thought  of  them,  he  exclaims: 

"  I  will  weep  over  my  sins  even  to  the  loss  of  sight. 
Lord,  accept  my  tears,  and  grant  me  in  this  life  true  con- 
trition." 

In  fact,  page  after  page  of  his  journal  betrays  abun- 
dant evidence  of  those  tears  which  accompanied  the  out- 
pourings of  his  love  and  sorrow.  Meditation  on  the 
sorrowful  mysteries  of  the  Rosary  was  sufficient  to  pro- 
duce in  his  soul  emotions  so  lively  that,  as  he  himself 
states: 

"  My  tears  have  so  exhausted  me  that  I  have  become 
almost  senseless." 

True  love  brings  forth  fruit;  consequently  we  read,  a 
little  farther  on: 

"  My  Lord  and  my  God,  I  vow  to  say  every  Friday,  as 
long  as  I  live,  at  3  P.M.,  if  possible,  the  Litany  of  our 
Lord's  bitter  Passion,  and  I  promise,  also,  to  teach  my 
children  to  recite  the  Rosary  in  honor  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin.  This  I  resolve  to  do,  O  my  God  !" 

Father  Neumann  was  not  exempt  from  those  intense 
spiritual  sufferings  which  usually  fall  to  the  lot  of  the 
elect.  The  salvation  of  those  confided  to  him  wrung 
from  him  many  a  cry  of  anguish.  Witness  the  follow- 
ing: 

"  Mercy,  mercy,  my  God  !  My  God,  infinite  mercy  ! 
My  faith  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament  grows  weak. 
Ah!  when  will  this  end  ?  O  ye  tears,  could  ye  but  wash 
away  the  stains  of  my  soul  !  Hopes  and  longings  of  my 
youth,  how  utterly  have  ye  been  blasted  !  Flowers  of 
virtue  in  the  garden  of  my  heart,  how  have  ye  been 
rooted  up  and  trampled  upon  !  Ah,  my  Lord,  would 
that  I  really  loved  Thee  !  Divine  Master,  how  canst 
Thou  permit  my  immortal  soul,  my  soul  which  believes 
in  Thee,  to  perish  forever  miserably  ?" 

We  see  from  the  pages  before  us  that  whole  months 


Father  Neumanns  Own  Sanctification.    2 1 1 

passed  in  these  mental  sufferings;  that  no  ray  of  conso- 
lation came  from  on  high  to  alleviate  their  poignancy. 

"That  love,  O  my  God,  which  once  united  me  to 
Thee,"  he  often  exclaims,  "  has  completely  disappeared. 
O  my  Jesus,  I  am  lost  to  heaven,  I  am  dead  to  Thee  ! 
Oh,  raise  me  up  again  to  life,  Thou  who  alone  canst  work 
wonders  !  Lord,  what  shall  I  do  ?  Infant  Jesus,  how 
estranged  hast  Thou  become  from  me  !  Am  I  to  be  for- 
ever banished  from  Thee  ?  O  my  God,  give  me  strength, 
give  me  back  my  love  for  Thee  !" 

Such  were  the  mental  tortures  with  which  Almighty 
God  visited  His  chosen  servant;  for  such  is  the  road 
trodden  by  souls  from  whom  He,  the  wise  and  good 
Father,  asks  and  expects  much. 

Harassed  on  all  sides,  trials,  annoyances,  and  disap- 
pointments from  without,  anguish  of  spirit  within, 
Father  Neumann  believed  himself  the  cause  of  all  the 
evils  existing  in  his  several  parishes.  More  than  once 
the  thought  of  fleeing  to  the  wilderness  and  there  con- 
cealing himself  suggested  itself  as  a  welcome  release 
from  his  burden  of  responsibility. 

"In  my  faint-heartedness,"  he  says,  "I  indulged  wild 
dreams.  To  escape  the  terrible  responsibility  resting 
upon  me,  I  sometimes  thought  of  abandoning  my  flock, 
of  fleeing  to  some  distant  solitude  where  I  might  lead  a 
hidden,  penitential  life,  or  hire  myself  as  a  laborer  in  the 
fields.  The  fear  of  creating  suspicion  in  the  minds  of 
the  faithful,  and  of  affording  the  enemies  of  our  holy 
religion  occasion  to  blaspheme,  alone  prevented  my 
carrying  out  this  project.  Dark  thoughts  constantly 
assailed  me.  Thou  didst  come  to  bring  fire  and  the 
sword — yea,  Lord,  and  both  have  fallen  to  my  share! 
Holy  guardian  angel,  blessed  archangel  St.  Michael, 
strengthen  me  for  the  combat!" 

Father  Neumann's  only  refuge  during  these  conflicts 
was  fervent  prayer  to  Jesus  and  His  holy  Mother.  And 
therefore  did  his  Lord  and  Master  take  the  faithful 


212  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

servant  by  the  hand  that  he  might  not  suffer  injury, 
might  not  succumb  to  temptation. 

"God  protected  me,"  he  goes  on  to  say,  "in  all  my 
terrible  struggles.  When  clouds  grew  darkest,  He  arose 
to  strengthen  and  to  save.  To-day  I  was  several  times 
on  the  point  of  being  vanquished,  but  Divine  Providence 
came  to  my  aid." 

His  earnest  strivings  after  union  with  God  rises,  at 
this  period,  to  the  inspired  language  of  the  Sacred  Bard. 
Behold  the  following  plaintive  and  beautiful  aspirations 
of  his  loving  soul: 

"Jesus,  my  delight,  has  fled;  alas,  I  seek  for  Him  in 
vain!  I  have  lost  my  Beloved.  He  hearkens  not  to  my 
sighs,  He  heeds  not  my  voice.  My  eyes  are  blinded  by 
tears,  my  voice  has  grown  weak  from  lamenting;  but 
He  is  not  moved.  He  does  not  show  Himself  to  my 
poor  soul.  Jesus,  Jesus,  where  art  Thou  ?  Because  thou 
hast  followed  Baal,  O  thou  priestly  soul,  thy  Spouse  has 
separated  Himself  from  thee,  He  has  wedded  another. 
And  behold!  Baal  wretchedly  repays  thee.  He  mocks 
thee,  he  repulses  thee  with  scorn,  and  thou  wanderest 
fainting  and  hopeless,  tormented  by  thy  reawakening 
love  and  fruitlessly  sighing  after  thy  Saviour." 

Sometimes  a  ray  of  light  seems  to  have  penetrated  his 
soul,  and  his  aspirations  assume  a  more  trustful  tone: 

"O  Heavenly  Father,  see,  my  poor  heart  opens  up  to 
Thee,  touched  by  a  ray  of  Th)^  divine  grace.  Drive  from 
it,  I  beseech  Thee,  the  evil  one,  for,  of  myself,  I  am  un- 
able to  do  so.  O  lovely  Infant  Jesus,  Thou  wilt  live 
again  in  me!  Oh,  that  on  the  glorious  and  joyous  Feast 
of  Thy  Nativity  I  could  prepare  an  agreeable  dwelling 
for  Thee  in  my  heart!  O  Jesus,  Almighty  Saviour, 
hasten  to  my  relief!  O  dearest  Infant,  wash  me  with 
the  tears  which  my  sins  draw  from  Thy  sweet  eyes! 
Bless  me,  tiny  hands  of  my  Infant  Saviour!  Open,  sweet 
lips  of  my  little  Jesus,  and  say,  'Thy  sins  are  forgiven 
thee! '  Oh,  be  not  dead  in  my  heart,  dear  Jesus!  My  sins 


Father  Neumanns  Own  Sanctification.    213 

have,  indeed,  put  Thee  to  death;  but  do  Thou,  the 
Almighty  One,  be  born  again.  Rise  from  the  dead,  and 
raise  me  with  Thee  to  a  new  life!  Bless  me,  O  Jesus, 
with  Thy  little  hands!  Bless  me,  and  give  me  simplicity 
of  heart,  humility,  and  obedience!" 

Every  assault  of  human  passion  was  courageously 
combated  by  Father  Neumann,  everything  carefully 
guarded  against  that  might  prove  an  obstacle  to  the  at- 
tainment of  the  end  of  his  priestly  vocation.  It  seems 
to  us  almost  incredible  that  he  should  accuse  himself  of 
avarice,  he  who  had  never  lived  save  in  the  practice  of 
the  strictest  poverty,  cheerfully  depriving  himself  of  even 
the  necessaries  of  life  in  behalf  of  a  suffering  neighbor. 
Still,  we  find  the  following  ingenuous  lines  bearing  upon 
this  point: 

"This  hoarding  up  money  for  the  poor-house"  (Father 
Mertz  had  built  one  at  Eden)  "may  end  by  making  me 
avaricious.  I  must  be  on  my  guard."  And  again:  "I 
fear  I  am  becoming  miserly.  I  take  so  much  delight  in 
counting  money.  I  have  begun  to  offer  a  little  resist- 
ance to  the  vice  of  avarice  by  giving  half  a  dollar  to  the 
servers  at  Holy  Mass.  I  must  repeat  the  donation  in 
order  to  free  myself  entirely  from  such  temptations; 
otherwise  I  cannot  love  Jesus  with  my  whole  heart." 

And  yet  we  know  that  at  this  time  Father  Neumann's 
circumstances  were  straitened  enough  for  any  apostle; 
there  was  neither  room  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  comforts 
of  life,  nor  even  a  thought  of  the  same.  His  very  self- 
accusation  opens  up  to  us  some  of  the  most  charming 
secrets  of  his  pure  soul.  Without  such  an  acknowledg- 
ment, many  of  his  heroic  virtues  would  have  remained 
forever  concealed.  The  records  of  his  humility  redound 
to  his  own  honor;  for  "without  struggle  no  victory, 
without  victory  no  crown." 

Never  hesitating  to  combat  temptation  by  the  most 
efficacious  remedies.  Father  Neumann  shrank  not  from 
employing,  in  what  he  considered  his  temptation  to 


214  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

avarice,  a  means  which,  outside  of  a  religious  Order, 
would  naturally  give  rise  to  innumerable  difficulties. 
But  "love  casts  out  fear,"  and  his  was  that  perfect  love 
which  gives  all  to  the  Beloved.  Here  are  his  words: 

"This  incipient  hankering  after  money  prevents  me 
from  keeping  my  thoughts  fixed  on  God.  On  the  eve  of 
St.  Peter  of  Alcantara's  Feast  (1836)  I  was  unusually  dis- 
couraged and  distracted.  I  took  refuge  from  my  cares 
with  Jesus  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  and  as  I  prayed 
and  wept  before  Him,  the  thought  occurred  to  me  to 
make  the  vow  of  poverty.  I  followed  the  inspiration  in 
all  sincerity.  The  reflection  as  to  how  I  should  practise 
it  gave  me  some  uneasiness;  but,  O  my  God,  I  trust  to 
Thee  for  light  and  strength.  Peace  returned  to  my 
soul." 

Father  Neumann  contemplated  about  this  time  the 
erection  of  a  school-house  at  Williamsville;  but,  dreading 
the  expense  it  would  entail,  the  church-trustees  opposed 
his  plans.  In  one  of  his  colloquies  with  Almighty  God 
we  find  the  following  on  this  subject: 

"  This  school-house  will  have  to  be  my  own  work  under 
Thee,  O  my  God;  but,  for  Thy  love,  I  will  spare  nothing. 
My  vow  of  poverty  will  now  be  of  service  to  me.  I  shall 
have  a  chance  to  test  the  sincerity  of  my  resolutions." 

The  disfavor  in  which  some  Catholics  of  Williamsville 
held  Father  Neumann  the  latter  repaid  in  the  coin  of 
the  saints.  He  left  nothing  undone  to  return  the  insults 
heaped  upon  him  by  the  most  disinterested  works  of 
charity  in  their  behalf.  During  that  bitter  period  of 
spiritual  abandonment  of  which  we  have  already  made 
mention,  he  one  day  exclaimed: 

"Will  not  even  my  love  for  my  enemies  move  Thee, 
O  Jesus?  Witness  my  last  expenditure,  the  stove  for 
the  school  out  of  my  private  purse.  Lord,  I  offer  it  to 
Thee." 

This  purchase,  if  the  truth  were  known,  was  made  at 
the  sacrifice  of  Father  Neumann's  last  dollar.  Shortly 


Father  Neumanns  Own  Sanctification.    215 

after,    we    find    him    furnishing   the   same   school   with 
benches. 

"The  thought  that  it  was  for  my  Jesus,  the  Friend  of 
children,"  he  says,  "for  His  love,  has  won  me  a  victory 
over  my  hankering  after  money.  Yes,  my  Jesus,  all  for 
Thee!  I  will  teach  my  children  to  know  and  love  Thee, 
but  first  do  Thou  make  me  humble,  childlike,  free  from 
guile." 


216  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
Father  Neumann's  Vocation  to  the  Religious  Life. 

WHEN  Easter  of  1840  rolled  round,  it  found  Father 
Neumann  completely  broken  down.  He  was 
seized  with  intermittent  fever  in  its  most  violent  and 
obstinate  form,  and  for  three  months  he  was  a  prey  to 
its  weakening  attacks,  being  often  obliged  to  keep  his 
bed.  Now  was  the  time  for  Wenceslaus  to  show  his  fra- 
ternal devotedness;  nor  was  he  found  wanting  in  this 
hour  of  need.  His  thoughtful  and  gentle  ministrations 
contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  comfort  and  relief 
of  his  reverend  brother.  A  very  remarkable  feature  of 
this  period  was  the  fact  that  not  one  of  his  parishioners 
needed  Father  Neumann's  priestly  services  during  the 
whole  time  of  his  sickness,  though  previously  to  it 
scarcely  a  day  passed  without  a  sick-call. 

When  he  began  to  convalesce  he  was  advised  by  his 
friends  to  take  a  short  trip  for  the  sake  of  change  of 
scene  and  air.  Yielding  to  their  advice,  he  went  to 
Rochester  for  a  few  days.  Here  he  stopped  with  the 
Redemptorist  Father  Siinderl;  but  though  benefited 
by  the  change,  no  persuasions  could  induce  him  to 
remain  over  Sunday;  he  must  be  back  for  his  missions 
on  that  day.  Father  Neumann's  delicate  health  dates 
from  this  period;  and  though  we  shall  still  find  him 
getting  through  an  immense  amount  of  hard  work  in 
the  vineyard  of  his  Lord,  yet  his  pristine  vigor  was  gone. 
His  previous  exertions  regardless  of  his  own  corporal 
needs  now  told  on  his  otherwise  fine  constitution.  He 
returned,  as  we  have  seen,  to  his  wide-spread  missions 
to  enter  upon  duties  now  far  above  his  strength.  One 


Father  Neumanns   Vocation.  217 

day  when  paying  his  customary  visit  to  Father  Pax  in 
Buffalo,  his  first  words  after  greeting  him  were:  "  Father 
Pax,  I  must  give  up;  my  health  is  gone."  Such  an 
admission  from  the  "Bohemian  mountain-boy"  speaks 
volumes. 

Dating  from  this  epoch  sprung  up  a  closer  intimacy 
between  Father  Neumann  and  the  Fathers  of  the  Con- 
gregation of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer.  About  two 
years  previously  Father  Neumann  had  had  occasion  to 
communicate  by  letter  with  Rev.  Father  Prost,  C.SS.R., 
then  at  Norwalk,  Ohio.  He  requested  information  re- 
specting the  German  Catholics  of  Rochester,  whose 
pastor  Father  Prost  had  formerly  been.  Father  Neu- 
mann informed  Father  Prost  that  he  now  had  charge  of 
his  former  parishioners,  whom  he  visited  several  times  a 
year,  and  asked  an  explanation  of  certain  difficulties 
which  gave  rise  to  dispute  and  discord.  He  praised 
the  fervor  of  the  people,  and  ended  with  the  words: 

"I  must  candidly  acknowledge  that  my  short  stay 
among  your  former  parishioners  has  afforded  me  much 
spiritual  consolation.  May  God  be  praised!  The  zeal 
for  decorating  the  house  of  God  which  you  have  infused 
into  these  good  people,  and  much  more  the  ardent  de- 
sire which  hundreds  of  them  manifest  for  the  Body  and 
Blood  of  our  Lord,  filled  me  with  astonishment.  In  my 
own  parishes,  which  united  count  about  the  same  num- 
ber, I  very  rarely  have  the  consolation  of  witnessing  so 
great  a  love  of  God.  I  trust  the  Lord,  after  so  severe  a 
chastisement,  will  visit  them  again  in  mercy.  If  you 
could  possibly  arrange  to  come  yourself,  Reverend 
Father,  or  send  one  of  your  brethren,  you  would  greatly 
rejoice  these  good  people.  They  have  several  times 
asked  to  have  me  for  their  pastor;  they  have  written  to 
Bishop  Dubois  and  his  coadjutor,  Bishop  Hughes,  to  this 
effect.  If  free  to  choose,  I  could  never  resolve  upon  leav- 
ing my  own  people;  for  if  they  are  once  forsaken,  they 
will,  on  account  of  their  poverty,  remain  so.  But  the 


2i8  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

flourishing  condition  of  the  Rochester  mission  authorizes 
the  conviction  that  no  German  priest  will  refuse  the 
charge.  The  Rochester  Catholics  possess  this  advantage 
over  my  poor  people,  that,  until  the  arrival  of  their  own 
pastor,  they  can  hear  Mass  and  receive  the  Sacraments 
in  the  English  church,  as  they  have  done  since  Father 
Czackert's  departure;  whereas  in  my  districts  there  would 
be  over  a  thousand  souls  who  could  get  to  Mass  scarcely 
once  a  year." 

A  second  reason  which  led  to  Father  Neumann's  cor- 
respondence with  Father  Prost  was  his  desire  of  estab- 
lishing the  Confraternity  of  the  Scapular  among  his 
parishioners.  He  says: 

"I  have  been  requested  by  some  pious  souls  to  bless 
their  scapulars;  but  I  have  declined  for  the  present,  not 
thinking  myself  authorized  to  confer  such  a  blessing. 
To  whom  must  I  apply  for  these  faculties  ?  For  a  long 
time  I  have  been  anxious  to  establish  the  Confraternity 
of  Mt.  Carmel  among  my  people.  I  applied  some  time 
ago  to  Father  Rass,  of  Strasburg,  for  the  necessary  fac- 
ulties, also  for  the  rules  of  the  society;  but  as  yet  I  have 
received  no  answer.  If  you  can  give  me  any  informa- 
tion in  this  matter,  I  beg  you  to  do  so.  I  am  unfortu- 
nately very  ignorant  on  such  points." 

Father  Prost,  in  his  answer  to  the  above,  remarked  that, 
as  a  member  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy 
Redeemer,  he  could  establish  the  Confraternity  of  Mt. 
Carmel,  though  he  could  not  empower  another  to  do  so. 
He  closed  his  letter  with  these  words  of  the  Holy  Spirit: 
"  Va  soli!  Woe  to  him  who  is  alone!"  He  seems  to 
have  used  the  expression  as  an  intimation  of  his  desire 
of  Father  Neumann's  joining  the  RedemptorLsts,  for  he 
had  long  been  persuaded  that  such  was  the  young 
priest's  vocation.  The  thought,  however,  did  not  then 
occupy  Father  Neumann's  attention;  it  was  not  till 
toward  the  close  of  1840  that  he  felt  drawn  to  the 
religious  life.  He  tells  us  in  his  journal  of  the  cir- 


Father  Neumanns   Vocation.  219 

cumstances  which  combined  to  turn  his  heart  in  that 
direction. 

"  For  four  years,"  he  writes,  "  I  strove  earnestly  to 
animate  my  people  to  fervor  similar  to  that  which  I  re- 
marked in  St.  Joseph's  parish,  Rochester,  but  I  did  not 
succeed.  This,  added  to  a  natural,  or  rather  a  super- 
natural, longing  to  live  in  some  society  of  priests,  so  as 
not  to  be  left  to  myself  in  the  midst  of  the  thousand  and 
one  dangers  incidental  to  the  world,  inspired  me  with 
the  thought  of  entering  the  Congregation  of  the  Most 
Holy  Redeemer.  On  that  same  day,  nay,  at  that  same 
hour,  September  4,  1840,  I  applied  to  the  Superior,  Rev. 
Father  Prost,  for  admission.  On  the  i6th  of  the  same 
month  I  received  permission  to  enter,  with  directions  to 
repair  to  Pittsburg.  Immediately  on  receipt  of  this  let- 
ter I  notified  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Hughes,  administrator 
of  the  New  York  diocese,  of  my  intention,  begging  his 
blessing,  and  requesting  him  to  send  a  priest,  or  rather 
priests,  to  take  charge  of  the  different  parishes.  Reluc- 
tantly, and  only  after  long  deliberation  and  repeated 
refusals,  did  the  Bishop  grant  me  my  discharge." 

And  well  might  the  prelate  hesitate  to  deprive  his 
diocese  of  so  faithful  a  missionary  as  Father  Neumann, 
in  losing  whom  he  lost  one  of  his  most  active  and 
zealous  priests. 

Father  Neumann  kept  his  intentions  secret  until  the 
day  of  his  departure.  Only  his  confessor,  Father  Pax, 
and  his  good  brother  Wenceslaus  were  aware  of  the 
loss  they,  in  common  with  the  parishioners  of  the  seve- 
ral missions  under  Father  Neumann's  charge,  were  soon 
to  sustain.  When  Wenceslaus  heard  from  his  reverend 
brother  the  design  he  was  about  to  execute  for  the 
greater  glory  of  God  and  the  sanctification  of  his  own 
soul,  he  exclaimed  with  vivacity,  "  I  will  go,  too.  I 
will  follow  you;  I  will  enter  the  convent  with  you." 

Father  Neumann,  we  may  well  believe,  was  by  no 
means  averse  to  his  brother's  resolve  ;  he  accordingly 


220  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

petitioned  for  his  entrance,  also,  among  the  Redemp- 
torist  Fathers,  intending  Wenceslaus  to  prepare  him- 
self in  the  Congregation  for  the  holy  priesthood.  His 
request  was  unhesitatingly  granted  ;  but  Wenceslaus, 
not  feeling  himself  called  to  so  high  a  vocation,  chose 
rather  to  serve  God  as  an  humble  lay-brother. 

The  grief  of  Father  Neumann's  parishioners  at  the 
loss  of  their  good  pastor  was  sincere  and  general. 
They  felt  that  in  losing  him  they  had  been  deprived  of 
a  faithful  father,  friend,  and  guide.  Father  Pax  wrote 
to  the  Bishop  in  the  following  strain:  "It  is  my  most 
painful  duty  to  be  obliged  to  inform  your  Lordship  that 
my  neighbor,  good  Father  Neumann,  left  us  a  few  days 
ago  for  Pittsburg  with  the  intention  of  entering  the 
Redemptorist  novitiate.  He  was  a  most  excellent 
pastor ;  the  German  missions  have  sustained  a  great 
loss.  Father  Neumann's  charge  extended  over  a 
wide  and  scattered  district.  It  numbers  three  hun- 
dred German  Catholic  families  with  four  churches,  the 
fifth  not  yet  completed.  I  beg  your  Lordship  to  pro- 
vide these  abandoned  congregations  with  a  good  pas- 
tor." 

The  writer  of  the  above  had  the  consolation  of  ex- 
tending hospitality  to  Father  Neumann  during  the  four 
days  the  latter  spent  in  Buffalo  prior  to  his  final  depart- 
ure for  Pittsburg.  These  were  days  of  mutual  satisfac- 
tion for  both  those  noble  souls,  who  regarded  each  other 
with  an  affection  solid  and  lasting  because  founded  in 
the  unchangeable  God.  At  8  P.M.  on  the  i3th  of 
October,  Father  Pax  bade  a  regretful  adieu  to  his 
young  friend,  who  embarked  on  a  small  steamer  bound 
for  Erie.  The  boat  was  crowded  far  beyond  its  capa- 
city, nearly  four  hundred  passengers  being  on  board. 
Father  Neumann  could  scarcely  find  standing-room, 
and  right  glad  was  he  to  land  the  next  morning  at  the 
little  town  of  Erie.  A  tedious  journey  of  four  more 
days  took  him  to  Pittsburg,  his  final  destination,  where, 


Father  Neumanns   Vocation.  221 

tired  and  exhausted,  he  sought  admittance  at  the  Re- 
demptorist  convent,  October  18,  1840. 

A  hearty  welcome  was  here  extended  to  him  by  Rev. 
Father  Tschenhens,  then  Superior.  As  it  was  Sunday 
morning,  the  good  Father  requested  the  new  novice  to 
sing  High  Mass.  Though  worn  out  by  fatigue,  the 
latter  made  not  the  slightest  objection,  but  proceeded 
at  once  to  obey  the  commands  of  holy  obedience. 
Service  for  the  German  Catholics  was  held  at  that  time 
in  an  old  factory  which  went  by  the  name  of  the  "  Fac- 
tory Church." 

Wenceslaus,  whom  Father  Neumann  had  left  behind 
to  gather  up  his  effects  scattered  in  his  different  mis- 
sions, arrived  on  November  i3th,  and  began  with  his 
reverend  brother  a  life  to  be  thenceforward  more  than 
ever  devoted  to  the  service  of  Almighty  God. 


PART  III. 


FATHER     JOHN      N.     NEUMANN    A     REDEMP- 
TORIST. 

1840-1852. 


CHAPTER  I. 
The  Redemptorists  in  America. 

WE  shall  now,  for  the  next  twelve  years,  contem- 
plate Father  Neumann  in  his  new  character  of 
Redemptorist;  we  shall  follow  him  in  his  numerous  and 
laborious  missions  as  a  son  of  St.  Alphonsus.  To  form 
a  correct  idea  of  his  life,  it  will  not  be  superfluous  to 
cast  a  glance  at  the  early  history  of  the  Congregation 
of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer  in  America,  since  they  are 
so  closely  interwoven  one  with  the  other. 

About  the  year  1827  or  '29,  Father  Frederick  Reze, 
Vicar-General  of  the  diocese  of  Cincinnati,  made  a  trip 
to  Europe  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  priests  and  con- 
tributions for  the  American  missions.  Whilst  in  Vienna 
he  visited  the  Redemptorist  Fathers  at  "  Maria  Stie- 
gen."  His  glowing  account  of  the  immense  fields  in 
America  in  which  the  harvest  was  great,  the  laborers 
few,  awoke  in  the  heart  of  many  a  brave  son  of  St. 
Alphonsus  the  desire  to  establish  there  the  Congrega- 
tion of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer. 

Venerable  Clement  Maria  Hofbauer,  that  great  ser- 


The  Redemptorists  in  America.          223 

vant  of  God  who  had  been  chiefly  instrumental  in  pro- 
curing a  colony  of  Redemptorists  for  Germany,  used 
often  to  speak  with  enthusiasm  of  the  possibility  of 
establishing  his  brethren  in  those  broad  transatlantic 
domains.  This  idea  had  taken  so  firm  a  hold  on  his 
mind  that,  after  his  expulsion  from  Vienna  in  1819,  he 
resolved  to  go  to  America  himself.  To  the  inquiry  of  a 
government  official  as  to  whither  he  intended  to  betake 
himself,  he  responded,  "  To  America."  It  is  even  said 
that  the  venerable  founder  of  the  Congregation,  St. 
Alphonsus  himself,  walking  one  day  along  the  Bay  of 
Naples,  pointed  out  to  his  young  students  a  ship  bear- 
ing the  words,  "  For  New  Orleans,"  and  said,  in  a  spirit 
of  prophecy,  "  My  sons  will  one  day  have  a  house  in 
that  place." 

Very  Rev.  Father  Passerat,  Vicar-General  of  the 
Transalpine  Congregation,  set  to  work  seriously  to  fol- 
low out  the  idea  to  which  Father  Reze  had  given  birth. 
In  the  spring  of  1832  he  despatched  three  Fathers  and 
as  many  lay-brothers  to  form  the  nucleus  of  a  Redemp- 
torist  foundation  in  America.  The  three  Fathers  were 
Rev.  Simon  Sanderl,  Rev.  Francis  Xavier  Hatscher,  and 
Rev.  Francis  Xavier  Tschenhens  ;  the  lay-brothers  were 
Aloysius  Schuh,  Jacob  Kohler,  and  Wenceslaus  Witapil. 

The  little  colony  arrived  in  New  York  on  the  zoth  of 
June,  and  on ,  the  following  day,  the  Feast  of  Corpus 
Christi,  the  Fathers  celebrated  their  first  Mass  on  Amer- 
ican shores. 

After  a  short  stay  in  New  York,  they  went  on  to  their 
destination,  Cincinnati,  where  they  were  most  cordially 
welcomed  by  their  old  friend,  Father  Reze;  the  Bishop, 
Right  Rev.  Edward  Fenwick,  being  absent  at  the  time 
on  his  pastoral  visitation.  The  diocese  of  Cincinnati 
embraced  at  this  epoch  an  immense  tract  of  country: 
the  whole  State  of  Ohio,  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and 
the  eastern  part  of  Wisconsin  Territory.  It  was  not 
hard  to  supply  the  newly-arrived  Fathers  with  posts 


224  Life  of  Bishop  Neiimann. 

entailing  a  vast  amount  of  missionary  labor,  which  the 
Vicar-General  did  provisionally  until  the  Bishop's  re- 
turn. Father  Hatscher  was  despatched  to  Norwalk, 
Tiffin,  and  other  small  towns  of  northern  Ohio,  with 
directions  to  form  the  Catholics  of  those  places  into 
parishes;  Father  Sanderl  and  two  lay-brothers  were 
sent  to  Green  Bay,  on  the  northwest  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan;  whilst  Father  Tschenhens  and  Brother  Jacob 
remained  in  Cincinnati,  the  former  in  quality  of  assist- 
ant priest  to  the  Germans,  the  latter  as  cook  and 
servant  to  the  Bishop  and  priests.  Soon,  however,  a 
serious  obstacle  arose  to  the  establishment  of  the  Con- 
gregation in  America.  The  Bishops  required  that  the 
Fathers  should  devote  themselves  to  the  religious  wants 
of  the  Catholics  scattered  throughout  their  vast  dioce- 
ses, a  special  district  being  assigned  to  each.  However 
reasonable  such  a  desire  might  seem  in  view  of  the 
state  of  the  Church  at  that  period,  it  could  not  be  un- 
conditionally complied  with.  The  rules  of  the  Congre- 
gation of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer  require  absolutely 
that  its  members  should  lead  the  community  life;  and 
so  strict  was  St.  Alphonsus  on  this  point  that  he  seldom 
allowed  any  Father  to  reside  out  of  his  convent  for  an 
indefinite  period.  The  Superiors  in  Vienna  believed  it 
their  duty  strenuously  to  uphold  this  point  of  the  rule, 
claiming  that,  if  the  Redemptorists  would  work  success- 
fully for  the  salvation  of  souls,  they  must  live  in  accord- 
ance with  their  vocation.  This  circumstance  explains 
why  the  activity  of  the  Redemptorist  Fathers  was, 
during  their  first  years  in  America,  necessarily  and  in 
many  ways  held  in  check. 

Father  Sanderl  found  a  small  log-church  at  Green 
Bay.  He  hired  a  neighboring  house  in  which  to  open 
the  first  Redemptorist  convent  in  the  New  World. 
Father  Hatscher,  who,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been  or- 
dered to  the  northern  districts  of  Ohio,  was  now  recalled 
by  the  voice  of  obedience,  and  sent  to  join  the  little 


The  Redemptorists  in  America.         225 

colony  at  Green  Bay.  He  set  out  immediately,  but  on 
reaching  Detroit,  where  the  cholera  was  raging,  he 
found  the  Bishop  occupied  with  the  spiritual  wants  of 
the  sick  and  dying.  The  saintly  prelate  was  over- 
whelmed with  work  and  far  from  equal  to  the  task  of 
caring  for  the  many  stricken  down  by  the  epidemic. 
He  rejoiced,  therefore,  on  seeing  Father  Hatscher,  whom 
he  regarded  as  sent  by  God  to  his  distressed  flock. 
Gladly  acceding  to  the  Bishop's  request,  Father  Hat- 
scher tarried  in  Detroit  to  aid  in  administering  the 
Sacraments  to  the  sick.  Night  and  day  saw  him  actively 
engaged  in  these  heavenly  ministrations.  He  left  De- 
troit only  after  the  epidemic  had  subsided,  and  con- 
tinued his  journey  across  the  lake  to  Green  Bay.  The 
good  Bishop  Fenwick  himself  fell  a  victim  to  his  zeal. 
He  was  attacked  by  the  cholera  at  Canton,  but  started, 
nevertheless,  to  return  to  Cincinnati,  intending  to  visit 
several  congregations  on  the  way;  but  the  malady  in- 
creased to  such  a  degree  that,  on  arriving  at  Wooster, 
he  was  compelled  to  retire  to  bed.  He  expired  the  next 
day,  September  26,  1832,  without  those  religious  rites 
and  consolations  which  he  himself  had  so  often  ad- 
ministered to  others.  He  fought  the  good  fight,  he 
finished  his  course,  he  kept  the  faith. 

Meantime,  Father  Tschenhens  had  left  Cincinnati  to 
join  his  brethren  at  Green  Bay;  but  on  his  way  he  was 
detained  at  Norwalk  and  Tiffin.  The  spiritual  destitu- 
tion of  the  poor  Catholics  aroused  his  compassion,  for 
since  the  departure  of  Father  Hatscher  they  had  not 
seen  a  Catholic  priest.  The  cholera  was  raging  here 
also,  and  many  were  daily  succumbing  to  its  attacks; 
therefore  Father  Tschenhens  resolved  to  remain  in 
those  localities  whilst  he  could  be  of  any  assistance  to 
souls. 

The  little  colony  at  Green  Bay  had  by  this  time  dis- 
covered that  their  attempt  to  establish  a  convent  in  that 
district  was  altogether  impracticable,  and  so  the  idea 


226  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

was  abandoned.  One  priest  would  be  quite  sufficient 
for  the  wants  of  the  small  Catholic  population;  conse- 
quently a  religious  community,  even  if  able  to  procure 
the  necessaries  of  life,  would  be  superfluous  in  such  a 
place. 

When  Father  Tschenhens  was  informed  of  this  de- 
cision, he  took  up  his  abode  for  the  time  at  Norwalk, 
built  St.  Alphonsus"  Church,  and  visited  the  Catholics  of 
the  surrounding  country,  embracing  a  circuit  of  thirty 
or  forty  miles.  Fathers  Sanderl  and  Hatscher  opened 
a  mission  for  the  Indian  tribes  of  northern  Michigan, 
and,  from  Green  Bay  and  Arbre-Croche,  extended  their 
apostolic  influence  far  and  near.  Their  labors  among 
the  Indians  were  successful  to  a  degree,  though  they 
effected  little  among  the  whites,  who  numbered  few,  and 
those  few  chiefly  Protestants  or  indifferent  Catholics. 

The  following  brief  yet  striking  lines  we  clip  from 
the  "Chronicles"  which  record  the  various  trials  and 
circumstances  attendant  on  the  efforts  of  the  Redemp- 
torist  Fathers  in  their  early  American  foundations: 
"Which  of  the  Fathers  suffered  most,  or  which  endured 
the  greatest  inconveniences,  it  would  be  difficult  to  say. 
The  last  day,  the  great  Day  of  Judgment,  will  reveal 
many  facts  to  their  eternal  honor  and  glory." 

The  lay-brothers,  no  less  than  the  Fathers,  were  now 
in  a  position  to  try  their  fidelity.  Necessity  forced  them 
to  gain  their  own  livelihood,  and  contribute  likewise  to 
the  support  of  the  Fathers  whose  clerical  duties  would 
not  admit  of  their  following  secular  avocations.  Some 
of  these  good  Brothers,  sighing  for  the  quiet  and  seclu- 
sion they  had  left  behind  them,  became  dissatisfied  and 
returned  to  Europe.  Divine  Providence,  however,  pro- 
vided for  the  emergency.  Other  young  men  felt  within 
them  a  call  to  the  religious  life,  and  applied  to  the  con- 
gregation for  admission  as  lay-brothers.  Among  them 
we  shall  make  mention  of  one  who,  without  doubt,  is 
now  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  crown  promised  to  per- 


The  Redemptorists  in  America.          227 

severance.  We  allude  to  Brother  Joseph  Reisach.  He 
arrived  in  New  York,  January  8,  1833,  in  company  with  the 
well-known  and  highly  distinguished  Father  Raffeiner, 
both  having  come  to  America  intending  to  join  the  Re- 
demptorists. They  had,  in  fact,  already  been  received 
in  Vienna  as  candidates  for  the  American  missions.  The 
German  Catholics  of  New  York  were  at  that  time,  as 
was  the  case  in  so  many  other  parts  of  the  United 
States,  totally  deprived  of  spiritual  assistance,  having 
no  priest  to  attend  to  their  wants.  Father  Raffeiner 
thought  it  his  duty  to  devote  to  them  his  time  and 
strength  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls. 
His  companion,  however,  could  not  be  dissuaded  from 
his  first  purpose.  He  pursued  his  journey  westward 
and,  after  undergoing  many  hardships  and  surmounting 
numerous  obstacles,  reached  Green  Bay,  July  14,  1833. 

In  1834  Father  Sanderl  removed  to  Arbre-Croche, 
taking  with  him  two  candidates,  Brother  Joseph  (men- 
tioned above)  and  Brother  Vitus.  During  the  Lent  of 
1835  it  so  happened  that  the  altar-wine  gave  out.  The 
Fathers  were  in  some  perplexity  as  to  how  the  want 
could  be  supplied,  when  the  two  Brothers  stepped  for- 
ward and  offered  to  undertake  a  journey  beset  with 
peril,  in  order  to  procure  what  was  wanted.  Their  road 
led  across  the  lake,  which  was  still  frozen.  A  sled  was 
speedily  constructed,  a  compass  and  materials  for  light- 
ing a  fire  provided,  and  thus  equipped  the  two  Brothers 
set  out  briskly  for  the  lake.  The  journey  of  the  first 
day  was  a  painful  one.  They  kept  along  the  shore,  and 
only  with  the  greatest  exertions  could  they  proceed; 
soon  they  found  it  absolutely  necessary  to  abandon  their 
sled,  on  account  of  the  snow-drifts  in  their  way. 
Hunger  and  thirst,  also,  began  to  make  themselves  felt, 
and,  as  our  two  travellers  had  neglected  to  provide 
themselves  with  fresh  water,  they  were  compelled  to 
slake  their  thirst  with  snow.  When  night  came  on,  they 
sought  the  shore,  hoping  to  fall  in  with  some  friendly 


228  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Indians;  but  they  found  only  an  abandoned  wigwam,  of 
which  a  huge  buffalo  claimed  prior  possession.  There 
was,  however,  plenty  of  room  for  them  too;  so,  after 
kindling  a  fire  and  preparing  some  tea,  for  which  pur- 
'pose  they  again  had  to  substitute  snow  for  water,  they 
threw  themselves  on  the  ground  to  rest.  But  in  vain 
did  they  try  to  sleep.  The  intense  cold  and  the  howling 
of  wolves  precluded  all  ideas  of  repose. 

Next  morning  at  daybreak,  they  recommenced  their 
journey,  seventeen  miles  of  frozen  lake  between  them 
and  the  opposite  shore.  On  they  plodded,  and,  with 
God's  assistance,  reached  Mackinaw  in  safety,  where 
the  pastor,  Father  Bondnell,  extended  to  them  the  hospi- 
tality of  his  own  residence.  The  glare  of  the  sun  on 
the  ice  had  so  affected  the  poor  Brothers'  sight  that  next 
day  they  could  hardly  see.  But  this  did  not  prevent 
their  rising  betimes,  for  they  had  much  business  to 
transact  and  a  long  homeward  journey  before  them. 
After  making  their  purchases  and  executing  the  several 
commissions  entrusted  to  them,  they  took  leave  of  their 
reverend  host  to  retrace  their  steps  of  the  previous  day. 
Both  were  heavily  laden,  Brother  Joseph  having  three 
gallons  of  wine  strapped  on  his  back.  And  now,  in 
real  earnest,  began  the  difficulties  of  their  undertaking. 
They  had  scarcely  proceeded  five  miles,  when  they 
found  themselves  exposed  to  a  new  and  unforeseen 
danger  from  the  sudden  thawing  of  the  ice.  To  their 
horror,  they  perceived  that,  despite  their  precautions, 
they  were  both  standing  on  a  block  of  floating  ice  which 
had  broken  away  from  the  main  mass.  In  their  alarm, 
they  turned  to  Mary,  confidently  invoking  the  aid  of  her 
who  is  never  invoked  in  vain,  when  suddenly  the  floe 
approached  the  solid  mass,  ran  a  short  distance  under 
it,  and  there  stuck  fast.  Our  travellers  were  thus  en- 
abled to  step  from  one  to  the  other  without  so  much  as 
wetting  their  feet.  For  greater  precaution,  they  now 
resolved  to  separate  and  keep  some  distance  apart,  in 


The  Redemptorists  in  America.          229 

order  to  lessen  the  pressure.  They  had  gone  only  a  few 
yards  in  this  manner,  when  Brother  Vitus,  who  was  in 
front,  heard  a  cry  of  distress  behind  him.  He  turned 
quickly  in  the  direction  whence  the  sound  proceeded, 
but  all  he  could  see  of  Brother  Joseph  was  his  hat  just 
above  the  ice.  He  rushed  to  the  spot,  when  crack  went 
the  ice  on  which  he  himself  stood,  and  down  he,  too, 
splashed  into  the  water.  Several  times,  by  clutching 
the  edge,  they  succeeded  in  swinging  themselves  out  on 
the  ice,  which  each  time  again  gave  way  and  precipi- 
tated them  once  more  into  the  water.  Exhausted  by 
their  efforts,  benumbed  with  cold,  and  poor  Brother 
Joseph  weighed  down  by  his  wine-keg,  they  were  upon 
the  point  of  abandoning  themselves  to  what  seemed 
to  be  their  fate,  when  they  turned  again  to  Mary, 
the  "Help  of  Christians."  "O  my  Mother,"  cried 
Brother  Joseph,  "  thou  knowest  that  I  have  always 
loved  thee,  that  I  have  made  many  sacrifices  for  thy 
sake  !  The  time  has  now  come  for  thee  to  help  me. 
But  do  so  quickly,  else  it  will  be  too  late."  Here  he 
turned  toward  his  companion,  as  if  to  take  a  last  leave 
of  him,  when  the  latter  cried  out  in  a  hopeful  voice: 
"Brother,  hold  on  just  a  few  minutes  longer.  When  I 
shall  have  rid  myself  of  this  load,  I  shall  be  able  to  get 
out  and  help  you."  And  so  it  happened.  With  re- 
newed hope  and  wonderfully  increased  vigor,  Brother 
Vitus  struggled  to  the  surface  of  the  ice  and  hastened 
to  his  companion  in  distress.  The  latter,  rousing  his 
drooping  courage  and  confiding  in  the  help  of  his 
Heavenly  Mother,  moved  slowly  and  painfully  over  to 
the  spot  where  Brother  Vitus  waited  to  lend  him  assist- 
ance. His  limbs  were  stiff  with  cold  and  scarcely 
could  he  grasp  the  edge  of  the  ice  with  the  tips  of  his 
frozen  fingers.  Little  by  little,  calling  upon  God  and 
His  Blessed  Mother,  he  moved  along  through  the  water 
until,  at  last,  he  reached  the  place  where  Brother  Vitus 
stood  and,  with  his  assistance,  succeeded  in  gaining  a 


230  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

solid  footing.  The  first  impulse  of  both  was  to  kneel 
in  grateful  homage  to  Almighty  God  and  their  loving 
protectress  Mary.  Then  rising  they  proceeded  on  their 
way.  They  had  not  yet  accomplished  one  third  of  their 
perilous  journey,  their  garments  clung  like  icicles  to  their 
benumbed  limbs,  and  the  day  was  fast  waning.  How 
the  night  of  this  eventful  day  was  passed,  the  chronicler 
does  not  tell  us;  but  next  morning  we  find  them  once 
more  on  their  march,  each  provided  with  a  long  pole 
with  which  to  test  the  strength  of  the  ice  before  setting 
foot  upon  it.  In  this  way,  slowly  and  cautiously  moving 
forward,  they  reached  at  length  the  opposite  shore, 
where  they  were  met  by  some  Indians  who  were  on  the 
lookout  for  them  with  horses.  To  counteract  the  bad 
effects  of  their  long  exposure  in  the  water  and  prevent 
serious  consequences,  these  rude  children  of  the  forest 
prescribed  what  seemed  to  their  civilized  neighbors  a 
novel  if  not  a  hazardous  remedy,  viz.,  that  the  two  way- 
farers should  stretch  themselves  in  a  running  stream 
and  allow  the  icy  water  to  flow  over  their  limbs.  This, 
the  Indians  said,  would  take  the  frost  out.  The  Brothers 
followed  the  advice,  and  actually  experienced  beneficial 
results. 

The  hardships  attendant  on  the  first  foundations  of 
the  Redemptorists  in  America  were  generously  shared 
by  Brother  Aloysius  Schuh,  of  Baden,  who  in  many  ways 
rendered  signal  service  both  to  the  Fathers  and  the  souls 
under  their  care.  He  taught  the  children  in  the  school- 
room; gave  catechetical  instructions  to  the  people  dur- 
ing the  Fathers'  absence;  read  to  them  Goffine's  Instruc- 
tions on  the  Gospels;  made  with  them  the  Stations  of 
the  Cross,  and  recited  aloud  the  Rosary.  His  powerful 
voice  did  good  service  at  Mass  and  Vespers  during  the 
absence  of  a  choir;  he  was  always  on  hand  and  served 
the  Fathers  with  untiring  fidelity,  cheering  and  encour- 
aging them  in  their  labors  by  his  own  unvarying  joyous- 
ness  and  affability  of  disposition.  He  it  was  who  took 


The  Redemptorists  in  America.          231 

charge  of  their  frugal  meals;  and,  a  blacksmith  by  trade, 
he  knew  how  to  manufacture  useful  articles  for  the  In- 
dians, who  gave  him  in  exchange  venison,  fish,  or  maple- 
sugar.  Brother  Aloysius  had  been  long  familiar  with 
the  secret  which  unites  prayer  with  labor.  Many  a  time 
were  the  Fathers  edified  by  hearing  him  singing  hymns 
or  saying  the  Rosary  whilst  discharging  his  duties  in  the 
kitchen  or  elsewhere.  But  let  us  not  think  that  his  was 
an  existence  all  glowing  with  sunshine  and  spiritual  joy. 
By  no  means.  It  was  under  the  pressure  of  grievous 
temptations  and  interior  trials  that  our  good  Brother 
Aloysius  won  the  crown  of  perseverance  in  his  holy  voca- 
tion. 

The  15th  of  August  brought  an  addition  to  the  little 
American  colony  in  the  persons  of  Fathers  Joseph  Frost 
and  Peter  Czackert,  the  former  of  whom  came  as  Visitor 
and  remained  as  Superior.  On  his  way  to  Norwalk, 
Father  Frost  passed  through  Rochester,  where  he  was 
hospitably  received  by  Father  Bernard  O'Reilly,  who  en- 
treated him  to  take  compassion  on  the  German  Catho- 
lics of  that  place,  already  very  numerous,  and  give  them 
a  little  mission  during  which  they  might  have  a  chance 
of  going  to  confession.  Father  Frost,  ever  eager  to 
assist  souls,  cheerfully  complied.  When  the  task  as- 
signed him  by  Divine  Providence  was  completed,  Father 
Prost  saw  himself  besieged  on  all  sides  by  his  grateful 
countrymen,  who  promised  to  build  him  a  church  and 
provide  for  his  support  if  he  would  only  stay  and  be 
their  pastor. 

And  so  began  the  Redemptorist  mission-house  and  St. 
Joseph's  congregation,  Rochester.  Father  Prost  satis- 
fied the  demands  made  upon  him  by  promising  to  return 
as  soon  as  he  had  consulted  his  brethren,  whom  he  was 
even  then  on  his  way  to  join  at  Norwalk,  Ohio.  He 
then  departed  full  of  consolation  at  having  been  chosen 
by  the  Master  to  fulfil  this  by-work,  as  we  may  call  it, 
in  his  missionary  career. 


232  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

On  reaching  his  destination,  the  first  whom  he  met  at 
the  residence  of  the  Fathers  was  Brother  Aloysius  who, 
in  a  linen  coat,  was  just  emerging  from  the  stable,  where 
he  had  been  feeding  its  only  occupant,  the  cow.  Let  us 
hear  Father  Frost's  own  account  of  his  first  impressions 
at  Norwalk:  "I  was  prepared,  indeed,  to  find  things  on 
a  poor  scale,  but  the  reality  far  surpassed  the  picture  of 
my  imagination.  In  the  church,  rough  logs  of  wood  took 
the  place  of  pews.  The  Fathers'  residence  was  a  wretched 
log-cabin  containing  only  one  large  room,  which  was 
divided  off  into  sleeping  compartments.  The  Brothers 
slept  in  the  garret,  the  flooring  of  which  consisted  of 
single  planks  laid  side  by  side  over  the  rafters.  One 
had  to  be  careful  in  stepping  from  one  to  the  other.  If 
Brother  Aloysius  had  happened  to  fall  out  of  bed  some 
night,  he  would  have  pursued  his  downward  career  to  the 
lower  story,  though  not,  thank  God!  to  the  lower  regions." 

Bishop  Reze,  of  Detroit,  made  a  special  visit  to  Nor- 
walk, to  engage  the  Redemptorists  to  make  a  foundation 
in  his  diocese.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  Father  San- 
derl  returned  with  the  prelate. 

When  Father  Prost  was  informed  of  the  Bishop's  offer 
and  its  acceptance,  he  hastily  transacted  the  business  on 
hand,  and  hurried  off  to  Detroit,  hoping  to  find  Father 
Sanderl  there.  He  was  not  disappointed,  as  the  Father 
had  not  yet  left  the  city.  After  discussing  the  subject  of 
the  projected  foundation,  they  embarked  on  a  sailing- 
vessel  for  Green  Bay.  A  storm  soon  arose  which  drove 
the  vessel  on  the  foot  of  a  cliff,  where  it  lay  embedded  in 
the  mud.  Before  it  could  be  got  off,  cold  weather  set  in 
as  the  captain  had  predicted,  the  lake  froze,  and  next 
morning  the  ship  was  ice-bound.  There  were  on  board 
some  fanatical  Protestants  who  now  began  to  curse  and 
swear,  ascribing  their  misfortune  to  the  presence  of  the 
two  priests. 

"  Put  them  off,  put  them  off  !"  they  cried.  "  Put  them 
off  on  the  ice  and  leave  them  there." 


The  Redemptorists  in  America.         233 

The  captain  stood  irresolute  as  to  how  he  should  meet 
these  furious  demands,  when,  at  last,  cowardice  pre- 
vailed. He  was  on  the  point  of  yielding  to  the  dia- 
bolical suggestion, — the  sailors,  in  fact,  were  about  seizing 
the  Fathers, — when  a  young  physician  interfered  and 
vigorously  opposed  the  execution  of  so  barbarous  a  de- 
sign. He  warmly  defended  the  Fathers,  upbraided  the 
crew  with  inhumanity,  the  captain  with  injustice  and 
dereliction  of  duty,  and  threatened,  if  they  dared  lay 
hands  on  the  two  priests,  to  have  them  all  arrested.  The 
courageous  and  energetic  defence  of  the  young  physician 
overawed  the  cowardly  aggressors,  and  the  Fathers 
escaped  molestation.  After  two  weeks  of  hard  labor 
amid  ever-present  dangers,  the  sailors  succeeded  in 
bringing  their  vessel  to  within  a  short  distance  of  Green 
Bay,  but  they  could  not  enter  the  harbor,  which  was 
frozen  up.  The  vessel  had  to  be  abandoned  for  the 
season,  and  the  passengers  completed  the  rest  of  their 
journey  on  foot. 

And  now  let  us  follow  Fathers  Prost  and  Sanderl  as 
they  make  their  way  to  the  locality  destined  for  them  by 
the  good  Bishop.  Surely  we  shall  share  their  dismay 
when  we  find  ourselves  in  the  abode  offered  them  for  their 
future  convent — a  large  frame  building  whose  whole  in- 
terior remained  unfinished.  To  render  it  even  partially 
habitable  would  entail  great  expense;  consequently 
Father  Prost  determined  to  leave  Green  Bay  as  soon  as 
travelling  became  practicable  and,  with  God's  assistance, 
seek  a  foundation  elsewhere.  A  new  cross  was  in  store 
for  the  good  Father.  Some  time  before  his  departure, 
he  received  news  that  his  baggage,  which  he  had  left  in 
New  York  and  which  could  not  be  forwarded  during  the 
winter  months,  had  been  destroyed  by  fire.  This  was, 
as  we  may  suppose,  something  of  a  loss  to  one  already 
struggling  with  poverty  both  professed  and  necessitous; 
but  a  loving  Fiat  or  a  Deo  Gratias  sets  all  things  right. 

Almighty  God  satisfied,  as  it  were,  with  the  good-will 


234  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

evinced  by  His  servants,  now  opened  up  a  way  by  which 
some  permanent  advantage  was  to  accrue  to  them. 
Father  Prost  received  a  letter  from  Bishop  Dubois,  about 
this  time,  inviting  him  to  go  to  Rochester  and  there  take 
charge  of  the  German  Catholics.  This  was  the  most  en- 
couraging offer  he  had  as  yet  received  in  America;  for 
Rochester  would  be  a  far  more  eligible  location  for  a 
house  of  the  Congregation  than  Norwalk,  and  Green 
Bay  was  altogether  out  of  the  question.  The  Bishop's 
invitation  was  accepted  at  once,  and  Father  Prost  set 
out  for  his  new  scene  of  labor.  When  passing  through 
Detroit,  he  was  pressed  by  Bishop  Reze  to  remain  in  the 
diocese;  but,  as  the  prospect  of  establishing  a  house 
there  at  that  period  was  very  gloomy,  Father  Prost  was 
forced  to  decline.  He  reached  Rochester  on  Sunday, 
July  10,  1836,  and  great  was  the  jubilation  of  those  who 
had  been  the  objects  of  the  zealous  Father's  former 
ministrations  there.  Here  he  found  Father  Neumann, 
who,  as  we  have  already  mentioned,  had  that  very  day 
celebrated  divine  service  for  his  (Father  Prost's)  future 
parishioners. 

With  the  approbation  of  Father  Bernard  O'Reilly,  the 
German  congregation  had  purchased  a  Methodist  meet- 
ing-house to  be  used  for  religious  purposes,  and  the  ad- 
ministration of  its  affairs  was  confided  to  trustees.  The 
building  was  large,  the  upper  part  affording  ample  space 
for  divine  service;  consequently  Father  Prost  fitted  up 
the  basement  to  be  used  as  a  school  and  as  a  temporary 
dwelling  for  the  pastor.  From  that  time  the  German 
portion  of  the  Catholics  had  regular  attendance,  and  the 
various  ceremonies  of  our  holy  religion  were  conducted 
with  as  much  solemnity  as  possible.  The  schedule  for 
Sundays  and  holy-days  was  as  follows:  first,  an  early 
Mass;  at  half-past  ten,  High  Mass  and  sermon;  at  three 
in  the  afternoon,  Vespers,  Catechetical  Instructions, 
and  Benediction  of  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament.  To 
awaken  and  increase  in  the  hearts  of  the  faithful  a  lov- 


The  Redemptorists  in  America.         235 

ing  devotion  to  the  Blessed  Mother  of  God,  Father  Prost 
established  the  Archconfraternity  of  Mt.  Carmel,  and 
introduced,  both  in  the  church  and  in  families,  the  custom 
of  saying  the  Rosary  in  common.  His  zeal  extended  to 
the  school,  and,  until  a  suitable  teacher  could  be  pro- 
cured, Brother  Louis  Kenning  filled  that  post.  He  had 
but  lately  been  admitted  as  a  candidate  to  the  Congre- 
gation of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer,  and  shortly  after 
to  the  holy  habit.  He  was  the  first  novice  received  in 
America,  and  was  ever  distinguished  as  a  devoted  lay- 
brother.  He  was  sent  to  New  Orleans,  where  he  ren- 
dered invaluable  service  from  the  establishment  of  the 
house,  in  1847,  till  his  saintly  death,  in  1875. 

The  Bishop,  the  clergy,  and  the  laity  witnessed  with 
satisfaction  the  progress  made  by  St.  Joseph's  congrega- 
tion, and  unanimously  congratulated  Father  Prost  on 
the  success  of  his  efforts.  But  Satan,  the  opponent  of 
all  that  is  good,  the  adversary  of  Jesus  Christ,  could  not 
endure  so  happy  a  beginning  for  the  Redemptorist 
Fathers.  He  foresaw  that  their  labors  in  America  would 
bring  forth  a  rich  harvest  of  souls,  would  be  attended 
by  magnificent  results;  consequently,  an  enemy  of  peace 
and  harmony  himself,  he  began  to  sow  discord  and 
create  disturbance  among  the  people.  For  this  end,  he 
made  use  of  the  trustees,  who  seemed  determined  to  do 
all  in  their  power  to  counteract  their  pastor's  zealous 
exertions.  They  frustrated  every  attempt  at  establishing 
a  church  and  convent  to  be  entrusted  to  the  Fathers  for 
the  benefit  of  the  parish.  Father  Prost,  unwilling  to  face 
the  storm,  resolved  to  leave  Rochester  for  a  time,  hoping 
to  return  under  more  favorable  circumstances.  In  the 
spring  of  1838  he  arrived  at  Norwalk.  He  immediately 
held  a  consultation  with  his  brethren  as  to  the  best 
place  for  a  foundation  of  their  Congregation.  The 
Fathers  all  seemed  inclined  toward  Norwalk  itself,  and 
Father  Prost  was  seriously  thinking  of  the  same. 

The  fall    of    1837    had    witnessed    Father    Hatscher's 


236  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

return  to  Vienna.  He  had  labored  and  suffered  much 
during  his  four  years'  apostolic  campaign  in  northern 
Michigan.  To  the  Indians  and  the  Canadian  French 
he  had  been  a  true  father.  The  Protestants  regarded 
him  with  ill-will;  indeed,  their  enmity  manifested  itself 
in  a  most  practical  form,  as  they  once  set  fire  to  his 
church  and  even  threatened  his  life.  He  was  a  true- 
hearted  apostle  of  his  Lord,  and  he  is  still  known  in 
Mackinaw,  Green  Bay,  and  Sault  Ste.  Marie  as  <:le  bon 
Pere  Frangois." 

In  this  same  year,  1838,  in  which  we  find  Father  Prost 
consulting  on  the  expediency  of  a  foundation  in  Nor- 
walk,  an  unforeseen  event  led  to  the  abandonment  of  such 
a  design.  An  order  arrived  from  Vienna  directing  the 
Fathers  to  send  some  of  their  force  to  Illinois,  where  an 
Alsatian  "  Land  Company"  had  purchased  a  large  tract 
for  a  Catholic  settlement.  The  Redemptorists  were 
offered  here  one  hundred  acres  of  land  for  a  convent,  a 
church,  and  a  school.  The  order  was  promptly  obeyed, 
and  Father  Czackert  set  out  for  the  locality  designated. 
On  his  arrival,  however,  he  found  that  the  company,  in 
order  to  attract  colonists  and  sell  their  land  to  advan- 
tage, had  set  the  rumor  afloat  that  there  were  already  in 
the  new  settlement  a  church  and  a  school-house  under  the 
charge  of  the  clergy.  But  what  could  the  Fathers  do  with 
a  hundred  acres  of  land  in  those  western  wilds  ?  To  live 
in  such  isolation  would  have  been  simply  impossible,  and 
much  less  could  they  follow  out  the  ends  of  their  holy 
vocation;  so  the  four  missionaries  again  separated  to  dis- 
perse in  various  districts  of  Ohio,  Illinois,  and  Michigan. 
Their  labors  in  these  places  were  not  brightened  by  the 
faintest  shadow  of  a  hope  that  one  day,  sooner  or  later, 
they  would  be  able  to  establish  a  house  in  any  of  them. 
Indeed,  both  Fathers  and  Brothers  were  seriously  con- 
templating a  return  to  Europe  when  the  Vicar-General 
of  the  Congregation  wrote  to  console  and  encourage 
them  to  perseverance.  He  exhorted  them  to  patience, 


The  Redemptorists  in  America.         237 

repeating  the  assurance  he  had  given  them  in  the  year 
1836,  which  was  to  this  effect:  that  the  same  year  which 
would  behold  the  canonization  of  the  founder  of  the  Con- 
gregation, Blessed  Alphonsus  Maria  di  Liguori,  would 
also  see  the  foundation  of  the  first  Redemptorist  convent 
in  America. 

Father  Passerat  was  a  man  of  prayer.  A  disciple  of 
the  venerable  servant  of  God,  Clement  Marie  Hofbauer, 
whom  he  regarded  as  his  model,  he  had  learned  how  to 
practise  the  prayer  of  contemplation,  in  which  he  was 
divinely  enlightened  by  God.  A  child  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  and  her  chaste  spouse  St.  Joseph,  Father  Pas- 
serat usually  chose  their  exalted  virtues  as  the  sub- 
ject of  his  meditation,  which  practice  attracted  upon 
him  the  choicest  lights  and  graces.  As  a  proof  of  this, 
and  that  not  among  the  least,  is  the  prediction  above 
alluded  to,  the  precise  time  of  the  establishment  of  the 
Redemptorists  in  the  United  States.  The  year  1839 
had  taken  its  place  upon  the  calendar,  and  in  the  Old 
World  the  month  of  May  was  to  usher  in  the  solemn 
canonization  of  the  Blessed  Alphonsus;  whilst  in  the 
New  World  the  prospects  of  a  permanent  settlement  for 
his  sons  seemed  as  distant  and  as  uncertain  as  on  the 
day  which  witnessed  their  advent  to  its  shores. 


238  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  II. 

St.  Philomena's  Church,   Pittsburg;  and  St.   Al- 
phonsus',  Baltimore. 

DIVINE  PROVIDENCE  had  wisely  ordained  that 
the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer 
should  owe  its  existence  in  America  to  Him  alone. 
Man  proposes,  but  God  disposes;  and  the  greater  the  dis- 
tress and  discouragement  of  His  servants,  the  nearer  is 
God  with  His  powerful  aid. 

A  good  honest  farmer  named  Adelmann,  of  Butler 
County,  near  Pittsburg,  went  to  Norwalk,  Ohio,  in  1839, 
on  a  visit  to  his  relatives.  He  witnessed  with  edifica- 
tion the  fruits  born  of  the  Redemptorists'  labors  in  that 
place,  and  earnestly  besought  Father  Prost  to  send 
spiritual  assistance  to  the  four  or  five  thousand  German 
Catholics  of  Pittsburg,  who  had  no  clergyman  to  attend 
to  their  spiritual  wants.  Mr.  Adelmann  entreated  Fa- 
ther Prost  to  go  and  see  for  himself  the  truth  of  his 
words  and  the  religious  destitution  of  those  for  whom 
he  pleaded.  Father  Prost  both  admired  and  praised  the 
good  man's  zeal,  but  explained  to  him,  at  the  same  time, 
that  only  an  invitation  from  the  Bishop  could  authorize 
the  Fathers'  establishing  themselves  in  any  diocese. 
This  last  remark  was  not  lost  on  the  good  farmer. 
Three  weeks  had  scarcely  elapsed,  when  Father  Prost 
received  a  letter  from  Right  Rev.  Francis  Patrick  Ken- 
rick,  of  Philadelphia,  to  which  diocese  Pittsburg  then 
belonged,  requesting  him  to  take  an  interest  in  the  Ger- 
man Catholics  of  Pittsburg,  and  appointing  St.  Patrick's 
Church  as  their  place  of  meeting  for  divine  service.  In 
all  this,  Father  Prost  saw  the  finger  of  Almighty  God. 


St.  Pkilomenas  Church,  Pittsburg.     239 

He  handed  the  Norwalk  mission  over  to  Father  Tschen- 
hens,  and  on  the  following  Sunday,  the  first  after  Easter, 
set  out  for  his  new  destination.  The  second  Sunday 
after  Easter  saw  regular  service  inaugurated  for  the 
German  Catholics  of  Pittsburg. 

Father  Prost  found  before  him  no  easy  task,  as  the 
condition  of  his  new  parish  was  anything  but  satisfac- 
tory. Rev.  Father  Charles  B.  M'Guire,  a  most  learned 
and  exemplary  ecclesiastic,  had  been  from  1820  to  '25 
the  only  priest  of  the  city  and  country  around.  He 
built  St.  Patrick's,  a  small  edifice,  and  attended  to  the 
spiritual  wants  of  the  whole  Catholic  community  until, 
shortly  before  his  death,  two  assistant  priests  shared 
with  him  his  onerous  burden.  A  word  here  of  this  gen- 
erous apostle  of  Christ  may  not  be  deemed  amiss.  We 
cull  from  Rev.  A.  A.  Lambing's  "Catholic  Church  in 
Pittsburg  and  Allegheny,"  and  give,  in  a  somewhat 
abbreviated  form,  the  following  account  of  Rev.  Charles 
Bonaventure  M'Guire,  O.S.F.  "  He  made  the  Church  in 
Pittsburg  what  it  is,"  said  one  who  knew  him.  Born  in 
Ireland  and  educated  at  Louvain,  he  exercised  the  duties 
of  his  sacred  ministry  in  various  parts  of  the  Nether- 
lands and  Germany.  During  this  period  he  acquired  a 
remarkable  knowledge  of  the  German  language.  He 
escaped  from  Louvain  during  the  French  Revolution, 
and  made  his  way  to  Rome,  where  he  spent  six  years  in 
the  performance  of  clerical  duties.  He  afterward  trav- 
elled over  the  Continent  of  Europe,  reached  Brussels  just 
at  the  time  of  the  memorable  battle  of  Waterloo,  and  to 
many  of  the  wounded  and  dying  administered  the  last 
rites  of  the  Church.  Shortly  after  he  set  out  for  Amer- 
ica, and  reached  our  shores  in  safety,  1817.  He  was 
stationed  in  Westmoreland  County  until  transferred  to 
Pittsburg.  With  his  appearance  a  new  era  commenced 
for  the  entire  Catholic  body.  Religion  found  in  him  an 
expositor  worthy  of  herself,  and  the  Catholic  body 
gradually  assumed  and  thenceforth  maintained  a  dignity 


240  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

and  respectability  in  the  opinion  of  dissenting  Christians 
not  allowed  them  prior  to  his  coming.  As  a  man,  as  a 
priest,  as  a  scholar,  none  knew  Father  Charles  M'Guire 
but  to  respect  and  love  him. 

One  of  the  two  priests  mentioned  above  as  Father 
M'Guire's  assistants  was  Rev.  Father  Masquelez,  an 
Alsatian  by  birth.  He  manifested  unbounded  interest 
in  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  German  portion  of  his 
flock,  and  by  his  direction  a  factory  belonging  to  a  Mr. 
Jacob  Schneider  was  rented.  Here  they  assembled  for 
divine  worship.  But  party-spirit  crept  even  into  this 
humble  community  and  created  confusion.  Fathers 
Masquelez,  Stahl,  Baier,  Herzog,  and  a  Benedictine, 
named  Father  Nicholas  Balleis,  vainly  endeavored  to 
restore  harmony.  Fathers  Herzog  and  Balleis  even  sep- 
arated the  factious  parties  in  the  hope  of  removing  the 
causes  of  discord,  and  formed  two  parishes,  one  of 
which  attended  service  in  what  was  denominated  the 
"  Factory  Church,"  the  other  in  St.  Patrick's  ;  but  even 
this  measure  proved  fruitless.  Conciliatory  means 
seemed  only  to  increase  the  feeling  of  bitterness  and 
widen  the  breach.  Fathers  Herzog  and  Balleis,  seeing 
all  their  efforts  unsuccessful,  left  Pittsburg,  and  the 
Germans  were  for  some  months  deprived  of  the  assist- 
ance of  a  pastor.  It  was  at  this  juncture  that  Divine 
Providence  sent  Father  Prost  to  settle  difficulties. 

After  acquainting  himself  with  the  existing  state  of 
affairs,  he  set  to  work  energetically  to  bring  about  peace. 
He  held  public  and  private  interviews,  he  reasoned,  he 
remonstrated,  though  apparently  in  vain  ;  the  evil  ap- 
peared irremediable,  the  antagonistic  parties  incorrigi- 
ble. When  affairs  seemed  at  their  worst,  Almighty  God 
interposed.  He  inspired  Father  Prost  to  address  the 
congregation  on  a  certain  Sunday  afternoon,  at  the  close 
of  Vespers,  and  recount  the  innumerable  miracles  every- 
where wrought  through  the  intercession  of  the  virgin- 
martyr  St.  Philomena.  He  exhorted  his  hearers  to  choose 


6V.  Philomenas  Church,   Pittsburg.     241 

her  as  their  patroness  and  solemnly  promise  to  dedicate 
the  "  Factory  Church"  to  her  if  she  would  obtain  the 
restoration  of  peace  among  them.  On  that  very  day 
the  contending  parties  moderated  their  demands,  and 
Father  Prost  was  thus  enabled  to  purchase  the  factory 
for  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  The  building 
was  large,  and  ample  room  was  found  in  it  for  a  church 
and  a  small  convent  destined  for  the  abode  of  the  Re- 
demptorist  Fathers. 

After  procuring  the  furniture  absolutely  necessary 
for  both,  Father  Prost  directed  Fathers  Tschenhens 
and  Czackert  to  join  him  in  Pittsburg.  He  had  in  the 
mean  time  received  from  Most  Rev.  Father  Ripoli,  Rec- 
tor at  Nocera  di  Pagani,  extensive  faculties  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Re- 
deemer in  America.  He  was  thereby  authorized  to 
establish  mission-houses,  receive  novices,  etc.  The  first 
use  Father  Prost  made  of  his  power  was  to  announce 
the  foundation  at  Pittsburg  as  the  first  house  of  the 
Congregation  in  the  New  World. 

In  consequence  of  this  definitive  establishment  of  the 
Redemptorists  in  Pittsburg,  the  missions  of  Ohio  and 
Michigan  had  to  be  abandoned,  in  the  spring  of  1839. 
St.  Joseph's  parish,  Rochester,  had  now  been  a  whole 
year  without  a  pastor  ;  they  would  have  been  entirely 
destitute  of  spiritual  assistance,  had  not  Father  Neu- 
mann's zeal  led  him  to  go  occasionally  from  North 
Bush  and  hold  service  for  them.  He  was  greatly  edified 
on  seeing  how  much  good  had  been  effected  during  the 
short  stay  of  the  Redemptorist  Fathers,  and  he  could 
find  no  terms  in  which  to  speak  their  praise. 

At  their  own  earnest  request,  Father  Sanderl  was 
again  called  to  Rochester,  to  take  charge  of  the  Ger- 
man Catholics,  and  it  was  hoped  that  a  house  of  the 
Congregation  would  soon  be  established  there. 

The  prophecy  of  the  saintly  Father  Passerat  was  now 
fulfilled.  The  same  year  that  witnessed  the  canoniza- 


242  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

tion  of  Alphonsus  di  Liguori,  Founder  of  the  Congrega- 
tion of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer,  beheld  also  the 
foundation  of  the  first  Redemptorist  house  in  America. 
After  seven  years'  rude  experience  and  painful  uncer- 
tainty, ihree  Fathers,  with  Brothers  Aloysius  and  Louis, 
were  at  last  enabled  to  enter  upon  the  conventual  life 
according  to  the  rules  and  constitutions  of  their  Con- 
gregation. 

One  year  later,  in  May,  1840,  Father  Prost  received 
an  invitation  to  the  Fourth  Provincial  Council  of  the 
Bishops  of  North  America,  to  be  held  in  Baltimore. 
The  invitation  was  accepted,  and  during  his  stay  in  Bal- 
timore Father  Prost  was  the  guest  of  Rev.  Benedict 
Bayer,  of  St.  John's  German  church.  He  received  much 
encouragement  from  the  assembled  prelates,  who,  in  the 
kindest  manner,  expressed  their  appreciation  of  the 
zeal  that  animated  the  Redemptorists  for  the  salvation 
of  souls.  The  Council  over,  Father  Prost  returned  to 
Pittsburg. 

The  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer,  after 
its  innumerable  trials  and  vicissitudes,  was  at  length 
fairly  established,  its  prospects  bright  and  promising 
for  the  future.  Father  Prost  had  now  held  the  office  of 
Superior  for  five  years.  He  thought  it  his  duty  to  re- 
turn to  Vienna,  both  to  render  an  account  of  his  admin- 
istration to  his  Superior,  Rev.  Father  Passerat,  the 
Vicar-General,  and  to  obtain  further  help  and  instruc- 
tions for  the  American  missions.  He  intended  to  take 
Brother  Aloysius  with  him  as  his  companion.  But  un- 
foreseen difficulties  sprung  up  to  counteract  his  design. 
Bishop  Kenrick  not  only  refused  him  the  letter  of  re- 
commendation for  which  he  applied,  but  endeavored  to 
dissuade  him  altogether  from  undertaking  the  journey. 
All  things  could  be  arranged  by  letter,  said  the  Bishop. 
The  truth  was,  Bishop  Kenrick  feared  that  the  progress 
which  the  Congregation  was  now  making  would  receive 
another  check.  His  decision  was  very  painful  to  Father 


*SV.  Philomencis  Church,  Pittsburg.      243 

Prost,  who  looked  upon  an  interview  with  his  Superior 
concerning  the  affairs  of  the  Congregation  in  America 
as  necessary.  He  therefore  applied  to  Archbishop 
Eccleston,  of  Baltimore,  for  the  letter  of  approbation, 
the  kind  reception  tendered  him  on  the  occasion  of  the 
Provincial  Council  encouraging  him  to  hope  for  success 
in  that  quarter.  The  Archbishop  expressed  his  willing- 
ness to  furnish  the  desired  document,  on  condition  of 
Father  Prost's  going  to  Baltimore  and  having  an  inter- 
view with  him  on  the  matter. 

Toward  the  close  of  July,  1840,  Father  Prost,  accom- 
panied by  Brother  Aloysius,  arrived  in  the  archiepisco- 
pal  city,  all  necessary  preparations  for  his  trip  across 
the  ocean  having  been  previously  made.  But  here  a 
fresh  obstacle  awaited  him.  The  Archbishop  laid  be- 
fore him  his  intention  of  transferring  the  Germans  of 
St.  John's,  Baltimore,  to  the  Redemptorists,  strenuously 
urging  upon  him  the  acceptance  of  the  charge.  How- 
ever welcome  such  an  offer  might  be  to  Father  Prost  at 
any  other  time,  it  could  not  but  be  a  subject  of  embar- 
rassment at  the  present  moment.  The  thought  of  de- 
ferring his  journey  was  an  unpleasant  one  ;  yet  consid- 
eration for  the  Archbishop's  wishes  forced  him  to  change 
his  plans. 

It  was  arranged  that  Brother  Aloysius  should  accom- 
pany Father  Bayer,  who  was  about  to  sail  for  Europe 
and  make  an  oral  report  at  Vienna  of  the  state  of  affairs 
in  America.  Father  Prost  accepted  the  church  and 
parish  offered  by  Archbishop  Eccleston,  for  which  the 
latter  expressed  himself  most  grateful,  ever  after  evinc- 
ing the  highest  confidence  in  the  Redemptorist  Fathers. 
Later  on,  he  transferred  to  them  St.  James's  Church,  his 
own  personal  property. 

Early  in  August,  Father  Bayer  and  Brother  Aloysius 
departed  for  Europe.  During  the  same  month,  Father 
Prost  took  possession  of  St.  John's  Church,  which  then 
occupied  the  site  on  which  was  afterward  erected  the 


244  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

beautiful  Gothic  church  of  St.  Alphonsus.  A  few 
words  upon  the  early  history  of  the  first  German  church 
in  Baltimore  will,  perhaps,  prove  interesting  to  the 
reader. 

In  1800,  Baltimore  could  boast  only  one  Catholic 
church,  St.  Peter's,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Sharp 
and  Saratoga  streets.  The  college  of  the  Christian 
Brothers  now  stands  on  the  site,  and  is  known  as  Cal- 
vect  Hall.  The  church  alluded  to  was  built  during  the 
Revolutionary  War,  under  the  protection  of  the  French 
troops,  then  the  allies  of  the  Americans.  Small  in  the 
beginning,  it  was  afterward  enlarged  and  raised  to  the 
rank  of  the  first  metropolitan  church  in  the  United 
States.  The  constantly  increasing  number  of  Catholics 
soon  necessitated  the  erection  of  another  church,  and  it 
was  determined  to  have  one  exclusively  for  the  use  of 
the  Germans,  as  they  would  thus  be  enabled  to  hear  ser- 
mons in  their  own  language. 

With  this  view,  the  German  Catholics  purchased  a 
lot,  60  by  155  feet,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Saratoga  and 
Park  streets,  where  they  built  St.  John's  Church.  Con- 
trary to  the  will  of  Archbishop  Carroll,  the  congrega- 
tion had  obtained  from  the  municipal  authorities  a 
charter  of  incorporation.  This  was  a  serious  step  in 
those  days,  as  the  result  soon  proved;  for  from  that 
time,  in  fact — that  is,  from  1806  until  1839,  when  the 
Redemptorists  took  charge  of  the  church — quarrels 
were  frequent,  and  acts  of  violence  were  perpetrated 
even  in  the  sacred  precincts.  A  legal  decision  at  last 
ended  the  strife.  The  clergy  who  ministered  to  the 
congregation  of  St.  John's  were  the  following:  Rev.  F. 
Brosius,  1804-1805;  Rev.  C.  Reutor,  1806;  Rev.  Nicholas 
Merz,  December  6,  i8o5~May,  1820;  Rev.  Peter  Babad, 
1820;  Rev.  P.  Beschter,  S.J.,  1828;  Rev.  Francis  Rolef 
and  Rev.  Louis  Barth,  1828;  Rev.  M.  P.  Gallagher,  1838; 
and,  lastly,  Rev.  Benedict  Bayer. 

The   last-named    reverend    gentleman    undertook    to 


•SV.  Philomends  Church,  Pittsburg.     245 

remove  the  source  of  all  party-spirit,  viz.,  the  trustee 
system.  His  proposal  to  build  a  new  church  on  a  larger 
scale  gave  great  offence  to  many  members  of  the  con- 
gregation, and  disunion  and  dissatisfaction  reigned 
supreme  among  them.  Their  worthy  pastor,  Father 
Bayer,  conceived  the  idea  of  handing  the  church  over 
to  the  Redemptorists,  and  Archbishop  Eccleston  ap- 
proved the  plan  as  the  best  and  most  efficacious  remedy 
to  the  long-existing  evil.  One  year  later,  Father 
Bayer  himself  joined  the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy 
Redeemer,  in  which  he  died  after  a  faithful  fulfilment 
of  his  religious  obligations.  It  was  at  this  critical 
juncture  that  Father  Prost  entered  upon  the  pastoral 
charge  of  St.  John's — no  easy  task  before  him,  as  experi- 
ence soon  proved.  But  Divine  Providence  had  a  great 
consolation  in  store  to  sweeten  the  bitterness  of  his 
chalice,  and  that  was  the  reception  of  Father  Neumann 
to  the  ranks  of  the  rising  Congregation.  The  first  time 
they  met  in  Rochester,  Father  Prost  was  favorably  im- 
pressed by  the  young  missionary's  saintly  deportment, 
and  conceived  for  him  so  great  esteem  that  his  petition 
for  admittance  to  the  Congregation  was  granted  with- 
out question  or  difficulty. 


246  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Father  Neumann  a  Novice  among  the  Redemp- 
torists. 

AFTER  due  reflection,  Father  Prost  decided  upon 
Pittsburg  as  the  scene  of  the  novice-priest's  year 
of  probation.  Here  he  would  be  under  the  direction  of 
Father  Tschenhens,  whose  piety  and  devotedness  were 
well  known.  But  two  weeks  had  scarcely  elapsed  when 
the  Novice-Master  was  called  to  Baltimore  to  be  the  as- 
sistant at  St.  John's,  whose  congregalion  had  increased 
so  rapidly  as  to  render  the  parochial  duties  too  heavy  for 
one  priest.  Father  Czackert  was  now  the  only  Redemp- 
torist  in  Pittsburg;  and  as  he  was  almost  always  absent 
on  country  missions,  the  poor  novice,  Father  Neumann, 
had  to  be  parish-priest,  his  own  Superior,  and  his  own 
Novice-Master  at  one  and  the  same  time.  The 
Redemptorist  Congregation  and  the  training  of  new 
subjects  had,  during  these  first  years  of  its  existence,  to 
depend  wholly  upon  a  kind  and  merciful  Providence. 
On  November  29,  1840,  Father  Prost  went  to  Pittsburg 
for  the  purpose  of  investing  Father  Neumann  with  the 
religious  habit.  The  ceremony  took  place  in  the  church 
after  High  Mass,  on  the  Feast  of  St.  Andrew,  Apostle, 
and  was  conducted  with  the  utmost  solemnity.  Very 
poor  was  the  young  colony  at  this  time.  It  possessed 
not  even  a  Ceremonial  containing  the  prescribed 
formula  for  the  occasion,  the  questions  and  answers,  the 
prayers  and  psalms  for  the  clothing.  The  celebrant, 
Father  Prost,  had  to  trust  to  his  memory  in  performing 
the  sublime  ceremony. 

Father  Neumann  thus  speaks  in  his  journal  concern- 
ing his  novitiate  :  "  There  was  no  novitiate  in  America 


Father  Neumann  a  Novice.  247 

at  that  time,  and  no  Novice  -  Master,  but  an  over- 
whelming amount  of  work  to  be  despatched.  I  daily 
made  two  meditations  and  two  examens  of  conscience 
with  the  community,  spiritual  reading  in  private,  and 
a  visit  to  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  I  recited  the  Rosary, 
also,  and  that  was  all."  But  God's  all-powerful  grace, 
with  which  Father  Neumann  fully  and  faithfully  co- 
operated, supplied  what  was  wanting.  He  well  under- 
stood how  to  acquire  the  childlike,  submissive  spirit 
expected  of  him  as  a  novice,  as  also  the  peculiar  spirit 
of  the  Congregation  and  its  saintly  founder. 

Shortly  after  his  reception  to  the  habit,  Father  Neu- 
mann was  called  upon,  according  to  a  custom  generally 
practised  in  the  evening  recreation  of  the  Fathers,  to 
relate  something  edifying.  He  began  in  all  simplicity 
to  recount  a  dream  that  he  had  had  the  previous  night. 
It  appeared  to  him  tnat  he  was  in  Baltimore,  where  some 
Bishop  wished  to  seize  nim  and,  nolens  volens,  consecrate 
him,  raise  him  to  the  episcopal  dignity;  but  the  more 
vigorously  the  Bishop  tried  to  drag  him  to  the  church, 
the  more  resolutely  did  the  novice  resist.  In  his 
struggle  to  free  himself  from  his  assailant's  grasp,  he 
awoke. 

Father  Czackert  listened  to  the  recital,  and  then,  with 
a  view  to  humble  the  holy  novice,  he  exclaimed,  some- 
what contemptuously  : 

"  What  a  silly  dream  !  You  had  better  dismiss  such 
nonsense  at  once,  and  aim  at  your  own  perfection. 
When  you  have  made  your  vows,  you  will  have  very 
different  thoughts." 

Meanwhile,  Father  Bayer,  who  had,  as  we  remember, 
gone  to  Vienna  at  Father  Frost's  request,  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  arranging  matters  for  the  Congregation  in 
America.  At  Vienna,  Munich,  Lyons,  and  Rome  he 
collected  a  considerable  sum  for  the  support  of  the  mis- 
sionaries, and  succeeded  in  obtaining  from  the  Vicar- 
General,  Father  Passerat,  an  additional  force  for  the 


248  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

American  mission.  Brother  Aloysius  had  the  happiness 
of  returning  to  America  with  four  Fathers  and  one 
professed  student.  On  March  7,  1841,  the  little  com- 
pany landed  in  New  York.  They  were  Rev.  Alexander 
Czwitkowicz,  the  future  Superior,  and  Fathers  Gabriel 
Rumpler,  Mathias  Alig,  Louis  Cartuyvels,  and  the  stu- 
dent, Frater  Joseph  Fey.  Fathers  Alexander  and  Louis, 
as  they  were  familiarly  termed,  parted  from  the  little 
company  in  New  York  and  thence  proceeded  to  Balti- 
more, whilst  the  rest  went  on  to  Pittsburg. 

In  May,  1841,  the  novice-priest,  Rev.  Father  Neu- 
mann, the  student,  Frater  Fey,  and  Brother  Wenceslaus 
were  summoned  to  Baltimore.  It  was  soon  found  that 
the  Fathers'  small  residence  would  not  afford  accommo- 
dations for  so  large  an  addition  to  the  community,  and, 
after  a  few  days,  Father  Neumann  was  sent  to  New 
York  to  assist  Father  Balleis  at  St.  Nicholas's  Church. 
Scarcely  two  weeks  had  passed  in  the  discharge  of  his 
new  duties,  when  the  novice  was  summoned  to  Roches- 
ter, there  to  resume  the  exercises  of  the  novitiate  under 
the  direction  of  his  old  Novice-Master,  Rev.  Father 
Tschenhens.  Thither  he  repaired  at  the  call  of  obedi- 
ence, but  only  to  find  his  intended  Novice-Master  on  the 
point  of  starting  for  Norwalk,  Ohio.  A  schism  had 
been  created  in  that  place,  and  Father  Tschenhens  was 
ordered  to  set  out  at  once  and  do  all  in  his  power  to 
counteract  the  evil.  Again  is  the  poor  novice  left  to  his 
own  guidance.  For  two  months,  as  once  before  in 
Pittsburg,  he  is  Superior  and  pastor,  Novice-Master  and 
novice,  at  one  and  the  same  time.  The  close  of  July 
brought  Fathers  Prost  and  Sanderl  to  Rochester. 

Father  Pax,  of  Buffalo,  falling  ill  about  this  time, 
begged  the  Fathers  to  let  him  have  his  former  friend 
and  neighbor,  Father  Neumann,  to  take  his  place.  The 
request  was  granted,  and  for  six  weeks  the  novice  ren- 
dered service  to  his  old  friend  at  St.  Louis'  Church. 

Thirty  years  later,  Father  Pax,  then  in  his  venerable 


Father  Neumann  a  Novice.  249 

old  age,  spoke  as  follows  of  those  days  :  "I  had  the 
happiness  to  have  with  me  once  more  my  friend,  Father 
Neumann.  I  was  sick,  and  the  Bishop  had  no  priest  to 
send  me  ;  but  the  amiable  and  obligirrg  Father  Neu- 
mann, with  permission  of  Superiors,  came  and  spent  six 
or  eight  weeks  with  me.  I  lay  sick  in  bed,  whilst  he 
labored  indefatigably  in  my  parish.  Many  a  pleasant, 
confidential  hour  we  spent  together.  The  time  passed 
all  to  quickly;  and  his  permission  having  expired,  he 
was  obliged  to  return  to  his  novitiate  at  Rochester." 

Again  the  novice  sets  out,  hoping  that  this  time, 
at  least,  he  would  be  allowed  to  recommence  and  con- 
tinue without  interruption  his  much- desired  novi- 
tiate. He  reached  Rochester,  but,  alas!  only  to  go  in 
pursuit  of  his  Master,  who  was  still  in  Norwalk.  Ar- 
rived at  this  latter  place,  Father  Neumann  did,  in- 
deed, find  a  Master,  though  not  the  quiet  and  seclusion 
of  a  novitiate.  The  parochial  duties  had,  by  this  time, 
so  multiplied  that  one  priest  could  by  no  means  dis- 
charge them  all;  so  the  well-tried  novice  had  to  turn 
found  and  gird  himself  for  work.  On  him  devolved 
a  full  share  of  duty,  and  he  rarely  saw  his  Novice- 
Master,  who  was  most  of  the  time  hunting  up  the 
Catholics  scattered  throughout  the  northern  part  of 
Ohio.  Toward  the  middle  of  November  he  received 
orders  to  return  to  Baltimore,  not  by  direct  route,  but 
by  slow  stages,  pausing  to  give  missions  in  the  little 
parishes  that  lay  scattered  along  the  way.  He  set  out 
without  delay,  and  in  an  open  stage-coach,  amid  tor- 
rents of  rain,  reached  Canton,  November  igth.  Here  he 
met  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Purcell,  of  Cincinnati,  with 
Father  Henni,  his  Vicar-General.  Meanwhile  the  rumor 
had  spread  in  Ohio  that  the  Congregation  of  the  Most 
Holy  Redeemer  was  near  its  dissolution  in  America; 
and,  in  consequence  thereof,  no  novice  could  make  the 
religious  profession  among  the  Redemptorists.  The 
archenemy  made  use  of  this  report  to  subject  Father 


250  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Neumann  to  a  grievous  temptation.  Bishop  Purcell 
crediting  the  rumor,  strongly  urged  our  novice-priest 
to  go  with  him  to  Cincinnati  and  there  take  charge  of 
a  parish.  But  Father  Neumann  resisted  the  temptation 
and  decidedly  refused  the  offer. 

After  a  short  stay  at  Canton,  he  went  on  to  Randolph, 
where  he  had  been  invited  to  give  a  mission.  Here  he 
found  the  Catholics,  as  in  so  many  other  places,  divided 
into  two  parties.  They  had  been  at  variance  for  three 
years.  The  dispute  was  at  last  carried  so  far  that  one 
party,  thinking  to  thwart  the  other,  maliciously  set  fire 
to  the  house  of  God.  This  diabolical  act,  the  outcome  of 
implacable  animosity,  was  punished  as  it  deserved  :  the 
whole  parish  was  deprived  of  the  Sacraments.  The  dif- 
ficult task  of  bringing  about  a  reconciliation  between 
the  offending  parties  was  imposed  upon  Father  Neu- 
mann. Confiding  in  the  divine  assistance  and  the  inter- 
cession of  St.  Alphonsus,  he  entered  actively  upon  his 
delicate  undertaking.  The  mission  lasted  ten  days, 
during  which  time  the  holy  missionary's  prayers  were 
heard  and  his  confidence  rewarded;  for,  notwithstanding 
the  cold  weather,  his  sermons  were  well  attended  and 
all,  without  exception,  received  the  Sacraments.  The 
contending  factions  were  reconciled,  and  peace  restored. 
Encouraged  and  consoled  by  the  success  of  his  labors, 
Father  Neumann  continued  his  journey  to  Wheeling. 
On  the  way  he  fell  ill,  and  was  forced  to  seek  shelter 
and  assistance  at  a  house  on  the  road,  about  ten  miles 
from  Steubenville.  The  inmates  were  Americans  wholly 
indifferent  in  religious  matters  ;  but  they  were  kind- 
hearted,  hospitable  people,  and  nursed  their  poor  sick 
guest  with  the  tenderest  care.  In  a  few  days  he  was 
well  enough  to  travel,  and  he  soon  reached  Steubenville. 
He  was  known  to  the  Catholics  of  this  place,  for  he  had 
often  visited  them  from  Pittsburg  and  celebrated  Mass  in 
their  little  church.  Here  he  tarried  a  few  days,  adminis- 
tering the  consolations  of  religion,  and  thence  proceeded 


Father  Neumann  a  Novice.  251 

by  stage  to  Wheeling,  Cumberland,  and  Frederick,  after 
which  he  took  the  cars  for  Baltimore. 

He  was  surprised  on  his  arrival  to  find  that  his  breth- 
ren had  removed  to  the  neighborhood  of  St.  James's 
Church,  St.  John's  having  been  doomed  to  demolition  in 
order  to  make  way  for  a  more  spacious  and  elegant  edi- 
fice, under  the  patronage  of  the  glorious  St.  Alphonsus. 
The  novice's  emotions  at  this  news  were  those  of  un- 
mingled  satisfaction,  for  he  looked  upon  the  fact  as  an 
evident  sign  of  the  Redemptorists'  firm  foothold  in 
Baltimore.  Before  his  departure  for  Rochester,  Father 
Prost  had  drawn  up  the  plans  for  the  new  church,  which 
were  subsequently  carried  out  by  his  successor,  Father 
Alexander.  A  lot  was  purchased  on  Saratoga  Street 
for  the  erection  of  a  spacious  church  and  commodious 
convent.  On  May  i,  1842,  with  the  Archbishop's  appro- 
bation and  in  presence  of  a  numerous  concourse  of 
people,  the  corner-stone  was  laid  by  Canon  Salzbacher, 
of  Vienna.  The  building  progressed  under  the  most 
favorable  auspices,  and  was  soon  completed  to  the  satis- 
faction of  all  concerned. 

The  time  now  drew  near  for  Father  Neumann  to 
make  his  religious  vows,  the  first  made  by  any  Redemp- 
torist  in  America.  The  ceremony  took  place  in  old  St. 
James's,  Baltimore,  January  16,  1842,  Rev.  Father  Alex- 
ander presiding.  The  chronicles  of  the  Congregation 
record  the  event  in  the  following  brief  but  significant 
words:  "  In  truth  a  new  man  \ein  neuer  Mann\  for  our 
Congregation." 

How  earnestly  Father  Neumann  regarded  this  impor- 
tant act  we  may  gather  from  a  letter  to  his  parents  writ- 
ten shortly  after  his  profession.  "  I  belong  now,"  he 
writes,  "body  and  soul,  to  the  Congregation  of  the  Most 
Holy  Redeemer.  The  corporal  and  spiritual  aid  mutu- 
ally given  and  received,  the  edification  and  good  exam- 
ple which,  in  a  society  of  this  kind,  one  has  around  him 
till  death,  wonderfully  facilitate  the  life  I  am  now  lead- 


252  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

ing,  the  vocation  to  which  I  have  been  called.  I  have 
every  reason  to  hope  that  death  will  be  more  welcome 
to  me  in  this  holy  Congregation  than  it  usually  is  to 
seculars." 

Father  Neumann  had  now  attained  the  object  after 
which  he  had  so  long  sighed;  he  had  successfully  met 
and  overcome  the  multiplied  trials  of  the  novitiate,  ren- 
dered more  difficult  in  his  case  by  its  repeated  inter- 
ruptions. His  probation  of  fourteen  months  was  not 
without  its  temptations  both  interior  and  exterior.  This 
he  tells  us  himself,  fifteen  years  later,  in  a  letter  written, 
when  Bishop  of  Philadelphia,  to  encourage  his  nephew, 
who  had.  but  lately  entered  the  Redemptorist  novitiate. 
He  says: 

"  I  myself  was  never  a  real  novice,  for  when  I  entered 
our  beloved  Congregation  it  had  neither  a  Novice-Mas- 
ter nor  a  novitiate  in  America.  Notwithstanding  this 
disadvantage,  I  am  not  without  my  share  of  experience;  I 
passed  through  the  numerous  temptations  with  which  the 
evil  spirit  is  accustomed  to  try  the  recruits  of  St.  Alphon- 
sus.  One  poor  novice  perhaps  imagines  himself  deficient 
in  physical  strength;  another  deludes  himself  with  the 
notion  that  the  rule  is  better  kept  in  another  Order,  or 
that  in  it  he  could  possibly  do  more  good  than  in  the 
one  in  which  he  now  is.  Sadness  and  dejection  seize 
upon  some,  whilst  others  are  beset  by  a  love  of  their  own 
ease.  Some  are  attacked  by  home-sickness  or  other 
temptations  born  of  self-love,  disgust  for  prayer,  want 
of  confidence  in  superiors,  etc.,  etc.  The  temptations  of 
the  soul  are,  doubtless,  as  numerous  as  the  disorders  of 
the  body  ;  but,  to  remain  steadfast  in  all  this  turmoil  of 
spirit,  there  is  no  better  remedy  than  prayer  to  the 
Blessed  Virgin  for  the  grace  of  perseverance,  whilst,  at 
the  same  time,  an  immediate  disclosure  of  the  tempta- 
tion to  one's  director  is  absolutely  necessary." 

We  will  now  furnish  the  reader  a  few  edifying  inci- 
dents of  Father  Neumann's  novitiate.  His  perseverance 


Father  Neumann  a  Novice.  253 

under  the  most  trying  circumstances,  his  exemplary 
conduct  during  the  period  of  his  probation,  must  cer- 
tainly excite  our  sincere  admiration.  Constantly  trav- 
elling from  place  to  place,  in  order  to  give  assistance  in 
the  different  houses  of  his  Congregation  then  in  exist- 
ence ;  for  long  intervals  left  wholly  to  himself;  labor- 
ing outside  his  convent;  attending  to  the  innumerable 
duties  of  his  ministry, — he  was,  under  all  circumstances, 
ever  the  same,  ever  in  his  own  estimation  what  his  posi- 
tion made  him  for  the  moment,  a  novice,  the  last  and 
least  of  all  his  brethren,  who  witnessed  with  edification 
the  virtues  that  shone  so  conspicuously  in  him.  Some 
of  the  hardest  trials  to  which  he  was  subjected  sprung 
from  his  own  humble  diffidence  in  self.  The  following 
lines  will  give  us  an  insight  into  them.  When  alone  on 
the  different  missions  to  which  he  was  appointed,  he 
often  desired  his  Superiors'  decision  or  advice  on  im- 
portant cases  laid  before  him,  and  he  frequently  wrote 
to  this  effect.  But  Divine  Providence  generally  per- 
mitted, doubtless  for  his  greater  humiliation,  that  no  an- 
swer whatever  should  be  vouchsafed  him,  or  that  he 
should  receive  such  as  did  not  even  remotely  touch  on 
the  question.  His  doubts  were  not  removed;  his  trouble 
and  perplexity  remained  the  same.  The  cool  reception 
his  applications  met  did  not,  however,  lead  him  to  relin- 
quish this  submissive  mode  of  acting  toward  his  supe- 
riors. Sometimes  the  answers  he  received  to  his  letters 
were  more  wounding  to  him  than  would  have  been  the 
perfect  silence  on  the  part  of  those  to  whom  they  were 
addressed,  being  couched  in  harsh  and  even  bitter  terms. 
From  Father  Tschenhens,  his  Novice-Master, — whether 
to  try  him  or  not  we  do  not  know,! — he  often  heard  the 
not  very  encouraging  words  :  "  You  had  better  return  to 
your  former  missions.  You  will  never  persevere  with  us." 
Severe  as  such  words  may  sound,  and  galling  as  they 
must  have  been,  they  could  not  effect  Father  Neumann's 
vocation.  It  was  safe  in  the  hands  of  her  to  whom  he 


254  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

had  entrusted  it,  safe  under  the  protection  of  his  loved 
Mother,  the  ever  Blessed  Virgin  Mary.  Nor  could  such 
treatment  lessen  his  love  and  veneration  for  Father 
Tschenhens,  whom  he  chose  for  confessor  as  often  as  he 
had  an  opportunity  for  doing  so.  Shortly  after  his  re- 
ligious profession,  he  wrote  him  a  most  cordial  letter, 
thanking  him  for  the  kindness  he  had  received  at  his 
hands,  and  expressing  his  belief  that  he,  his  former 
Novice-Master,  would  share  in  the  joy  he  himself  felt 
on  the  occasion  of  making  his  sacred  vows. 

Long  accustomed  to  practise  the  most  rigorous  pov- 
erty, Father  Neumann  was  more  than  satisfied  with 
whatever  fell  to  his  lot  in  the  way  of  food,  clothing,  or 
lodging.  Whilst  in  Rochester  he  found  room  for  the 
ordinary  furniture  of  a  sleeping  apartment,  a  bed,  a  stand, 
etc.,  under  one  of  the  staircases.  These  were  luxurious 
accommodations  compared  with  some  others  in  his  life- 
time; but  what  cared  one  of  his  spiritual  calibre  whether 
his  rest  were  taken  on  a  hard  bench  or  a  soft  couch,  ex- 
cept, indeed,  rather  to  give  preference  to  the  former  ? 

Privations  the  greatest  found  him  outwardly  silent, 
cheerful,  affable;  whilst  in  the  depths  of  his  soul  he 
roused  his  faith  and  adored  the  will  of  the  great  Father 
whose  mercy  apportioned  to  him  those  precious  little 
crosses.  When  humbled,  despised,  or  neglected,  an  ob- 
server might  detect  that  movement  of  the  lips  which 
betokens  prayer,  and  his  whole  countenance  breathed 
not  only  interior  devotion,  but  also  joy  at  having  some- 
thing to  offer  to  God.  On  such  occasions  he  was  some- 
times heard  to  murmur,  "  My  dearest  Jesus,  all  for 
Thee!" 

The  labors  and  privations  necessarily  encountered  by 
a  newly- established  Congregation  were  insufficient  to 
satisfy  the  fervor  of  our  saintly  novice;  he  must  needs 
add  to  them.  When  alone  at  the  different  stations 
assigned  him,  he  allowed  himself  but  a  scanty  share  of 
food,  and  it  was  no  rare  thing  for  him  to  fast  the  whole 


Father  Neumann  a  Novice.  255 

day  long;  he  wore  an  iron  cincture  furnished  with  points 
which  entered  the  flesh  and  made  painful  wounds;  more- 
over, the  frequent  use  of  the  discipline  and  protracted 
vigils  were  not  unfamiliar  to  him. 

His  obedience  was  exact,  childlike,  and  edifying;  the 
duties  entrusted  to  him  were  performed  with  rigorous  ex- 
actitude and  as  much  perfection  as  possible.  He  never 
meddled  in  the  affairs  of  others,  unless  requested  to  do  so. 
We  quote  the  following  incident  as  an  example  of  the  re- 
ligious fidelity  which  influenced  his  every  action.  It  so 
happened,  whilst  he  was  with  Father  Tschenhens  at  Nor- 
walk,  that  a  wedding  was  to  take  place  on  a  certain  day, 
the  parties  belonging  to  the  more  influential  class  of 
society.  Father  Tschenhens  had  prepared  the  bride 
and  groom  for  the  reception  of  the  Holy  Sacrament,  and 
he  it  was  who  was  to  perform  the  ceremony.  The  ap- 
pointed hour  drew  near,  the  wedding-train  had  arrived, 
but  the  officiating  clergyman  was  still  among  the  miss- 
ing. He  had  been  giving  a  mission  at  a  distance  and, 
from  some  cause  or  other,  failed  to  make  the  exact  time. 
The  bridal  party  began  to  show  signs  of  impatience,  and 
some  even  went  so  far  as  to  urge  Father  Neumann  to 
perform  the  office  of  celebrant,  assuring  him  at  the  same 
time  that  Father  Tschenhens  had  in  his  possession  the 
requisite  documents.  But  no  argument  could  induce 
Father  Neumann  to  celebrate  the  marriage  without  his 
Superior's  permission. 

Though  so  closely  engaged  in  the  works  of  his  min- 
istry, Father  Neumann  found  time  for  numerous  occu- 
pations conducive  to  the  general  good  of  the  community. 
The  number  of  Fathers  was  small;  consequently  they 
had  not  as  yet  an  ordo  for  Mass  and  the  Divine  Office. 
Father  Neumann  undertook  the  tedious  task  not  only 
of  arranging  one,  but  of  sending  to  each  of  the  Fathers, 
as  a  New-Year's  gift,  a  copy  made  by  his  own  hand. 
The  lines  accompanying  each  contained  some  cordial 
and  witty  remarks  like  the  following:  "  I  doubt  not, 


256  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

dear  Father,  that  it  will  take  you  a  whole  year  to  get 
through  this  letter." 

The  details  we  have  given  of  Father  Neumann's  pro- 
bation may  very  possibly  create  astonishment  in  some 
minds,  as  it  is  well  known  with  what  care  St.  Alphonsus 
elaborated  and  defined  his  rules  for  the  novices  of  his 
Congregation,  and  with  what  fidelity  its  members  adhere 
to  their  founder's  regulations  on  this  point,  as  on  all 
others  connected  with  their  institute.  But  if  we  at- 
tentively consider  the  circumstances  of  those  times,  the 
spiritual  wants  of  the  country,  we  must  admit  that, 
apart  from  the  conscientious  observance  of  the  rules  of 
the  Congregation,  no  more  suitable  training  could  have 
been  bestowed  upon  one  destined  to  carry  out  the  spirit 
of  the  holy  founder  in  America.  We  shall  admire,  also, 
the  admirable  workings  of  Divine  Providence  in  choos- 
ing Father  Neumann,  that  great  soul  whose  biography 
we  now  write,  as  the  first  scion  of  the  Redemptorists  in 
America. 

In  difficult  and  extraordinary  times  Almighty  God 
gives  extraordinary  graces,  as  is  proved  in  Father  Neu- 
mann's case.  The  Redemptorist  chronicles  of  those 
early  days  inform  us  concerning  this  first  acquisition  to 
their  holy  Congregation:  "  The  first  novice  of  our  Ameri- 
can province  did  not  enjoy  the  advantages  found  in  the 
regular  instruction  and  careful  discipline  of  a  well- 
regulated  novitiate.  He  was  entrusted  with  duties 
which  usually  fall  to  the  charge  of  professed  religious 
only;  nevertheless  he  distinguished  himself  by  a  faith- 
ful observance  of  rules,  unaffected  love  for  the  congre- 
gation, and  the  practice  of  eminent  virtues." 

Many  changes  took  place  after  Father  Neumann's  pro- 
fession. Father  Rumpler  was  nominated  to  the  German 
church  of  New  York;  Father  Bayer  sent  to  Rochester: 
and  the  Superior,  Father  Alexander,  set  out  for  Europe 
with  the  hope  of  procuring  an  additional  force  for  the 
American  mission.  Fathers  Fey  and  Neumann  re- 


Father  Neumann  a  Novice.  257 

mained  in  Baltimore,  in  which  city  there  were,  at  that 
early  day,  about  four  thousand  German  Catholics, 
though  the  parish  school  could  muster  only  ninety  chil- 
dren. The  pastor's  duties  were  rendered  the  more 
arduous  by  the  fact  that  his  flock  lived  scattered  through- 
out the  city  and  its  environs.  Sick-calls  were  frequent, 
and  often  from  a  distance  of  many  miles.  The  number 
of  converts  under  instructions  was  from  ten  to  twenty 
every  day:  not  a  Sunday  passed  without  witnessing  the 
abjuration  of  several. 

The  Redemptorists'  charge,  at  that  period,  was  not 
confined  to  the  Germans  of  Baltimore  alone.  Many 
other  places  around  contained  numerous  German  Catho- 
lic families  minus  a  resident  priest.  The  following 
stations  for  two  years,  1842-44,  were  regularly  attended 
from  Baltimore:  Cumberland,  Harper's  Ferry,  Martins- 
burg,  Kingwood,  Richmond,  Frederick,  York,  Columbia, 
Strasburg,  and  Westminster.  Nor  were  these  all.  As 
often  as  possible,  the  Fathers  visited  other  towns  of 
Maryland,  Virginia,  and  Pennsylvania,  to  administer  the 
Sacraments  to  the  faithful.  These  distant  missions 
usually  fell  to  Father  Neumann.  However  toilsome  or 
dangerous  the  journey,  never  did  a  complaint  escape  his 
lips,  never  did  he  give  expression  to  annoyance  or 
chagrin.  The  fatigue  consequent  on  these  trips  can 
hardly  be  estimated  nowadays  with  our  numberless 
modern  facilities  for  travel.  If  we  remember  that  the 
only  railroad  at  the  time  was  the  one  between  Balti- 
more and  Frederick,  we  may  perhaps,  form  some  idea 
of  the  difficulties  attending  such  excursions.  The  canal- 
boat  or  stage-coach  .was  the  only  mode  of  conveyance, 
and  when  this  failed,  as  it  often  did,  the  missionary  was 
obliged  to  proceed  on  horseback  or  on  foot  through 
forests  and  uninhabited  districts,  at  all  seasons,  in  rain 
or  shine,  heat  or  cold.  But  Father  Neumann's  love  of 
mortification  and  zeal  for  souls  surmounted  every  ob- 
stacle. When,  after  all  his  exertions,  he  received  the  re- 


258  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

ward  usually  bestowed  by  the  world,  when  his  well- 
intentioned  efforts  were  met  by  ingratitude,  when  his 
laborious  undertakings  were  greeted  with  scorn  and 
ridicule,  then  with  redoubled  earnestness  did  he  press 
forward  in  his  pursuit  of  souls.  What  would  have 
intimidated  another,  what  would  have  led  him  to  aban- 
don the  work  altogether  or  pursue  it  with  dampened 
ardor,  only  stimulated  Father  Neumann  to  more  heroic 
self-sacrifice.  His  health  now  was  not  what  it  once  was, 
not  what  we  knew  it  when  he  laughingly  termed  himself  a 
"  Bohemian  mountain-boy,"  for  he  was  now  a  prey  to  fre- 
quent wasting  fever  which  slowly  consumed  his  strength. 
A  letter  written  thirty  years  later  by  his  old  friend 
Father  Pax  gives  us  the  following  touching  incident. 

"  In  the  fall  of  1843,  before  returning  to  Europe,  I  visited 
Baltimore  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  for  the  last  time 
my  very  dear  friend,  Father  Neumann.  The  reception  I 
met  from  him  was  most  cordial.  I  found  him  suffering 
greatly.  His  throat  was  swollen,  and  fever  was  wasting 
his  health;  yet  he  still  worked  hard  in  the  confessional 
and  the  pulpit,  nor  were  his  accustomed  affability  and 
cheerfulness  affected  by  his  ill-health.  After  a  very  happy 
day  together  we  parted.  The  moment  was  a  painful 
one  for  both;  I  shall  never  forget  it.  His  last  words  were: 
'  Farewell  for  this  life  and  till  we  meet  again  in  heaven! ' ' 

We  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  these  two  friends 
and  fellow-laborers  are  now  united  in  the  enjoyment  of 
their  eternal  reward.  Father  Pax,  after  living  to  cele- 
brate his  golden  jubilee,  died  at  Saargemund,  diocese  of 
Metz,  February  18,  1874,  aged  seventy-six  years. 

Charity  toward  the  poor  and  distressed  was  always  a 
distinguishing  trait  in  Father  Neumann's  character.  Let 
their  misfortunes  be  what  they  might,  they  invariably 
found  a  friend  in  him.  On  January  12,  1844,  he  had  the 
consolation  of  performing  the  last  services  of  his  minis- 
try for  a  poor  criminal  condemned  to  the  scaffold.  The 
wretched  man  had  been  convicted  of  the  murder  of  two 


Father  Neumann  a  Novice.  259 

wives  in  succession.  January  i2th,  the  day  appointed 
for  the  execution,  arrived,  and  the  whole  city  of  Balti- 
more was  alive  with  excitement.  An  immense  concourse 
of  people  had  assembled  to  witness  the  appalling  sight. 
Suddenly  the  hum  of  voices  ceased,  and  silence  fell  upon 
the  surging  mass  as  the  condemned  appeared  on  the 
gallows  with  Father  Neumann  at  his  side.  Holding 
a  crucifix  in  his  hand,  he  addressed  words  of  encour- 
agement to  his  penitent,  exhorting  him  to  offer  to  Al- 
mighty God  his  merited  punishment  in  atonement  for 
the  crimes  he  had  committed,  the  scandal  he  had  given. 
Having  made  him  confess  his  guilt  by  an  act  of  contri- 
tion, he  presented  the  crucifix  to  his  lips,  and  remained 
on  the  spot  till  the  criminal  had  paid  the  penalty  of  his 
guilt  and  his  soul  had  passed  to  the  presence  of  its  Judge. 

Father  Alexander  returned  from  Europe  in  1843,  ac- 
companied by  eight  Fathers,  one  professed  student, 
Francis  Xavier  Seelos,  and  five  lay-brothers.  About  the 
same  time  Rev.  Joseph  Miiller  and  six  lay-brothers  en- 
tered the  Congregation. 

By  order  of  the  Vicar-General,  Rev.  Father  Passerat, 
the  Superior  of  the  Redemptorists  in  America,  was 
thenceforward  provided  with  two  Consultors,  Father 
Neumann  being  appointed  to  that  responsible  post. 
The  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer  was 
now  perfectly  organized  in  America.  Enlarging  its  field 
of  usefulness,  it  spread  from  year  to  year  throughout 
the  vast  districts  of  the  New  World.  It  rendered  ines- 
timable service  to  the  German  Catholics  by  gathering 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  them  into  over  two  hundred 
parishes,  which,  with  few  exceptions,  are  at  the  present 
day  in  a  flourishing  condition,  attended  by  their  own 
parish  priests.  Baltimore,  Pittsburg,  Rochester,  and 
Philadelphia  became  the  special  theatres  of  its  successful 
ministrations.  In  fact,  the  Redemptorist  Fathers  were 
almost  the  only  priests  who  assumed  the  charge  of  the 
German  Catholics  of  those  cities. 


260  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Father  Neumann  Superior  of  the  Redemptorists, 
Pittsburgh 

ON  March  5,  1844,  Father  Neumann  was  chosen 
Superior  of  the  Redemptorists  in  Pittsburg.  It 
will  not  be  out  of  place  to  mention  here  some  of  the 
difficulties  attendant  on  the  formation  of  St.  Philomena's 
parish  of  that  city.  As  we  have  already  seen,  its  estab- 
lishment gave  rise  to  much  anxiety  and  frequent  contests 
which  lasted  many  years.  Father  Prost  had,  indeed, 
succeeded  in  restoring  something  like  harmony;  but' 
two  years  later,  in  1841,  his  successor,  Father  Alexander, 
was  forced  into  new  altercations  with  some  members  of 
the  parish.  They  had  become  so  infatuated  with  the 
mischievous  and  unchristian  trustee  system  that  they 
could  not  understand  why  they  should  be  excluded  from 
a  voice  in  every  matter  connected  with  the  church. 
They  went  so  far  as  to  renew  their  claims  upon  the  prop- 
erty of  both  church  and  pastoral  residence.  Father 
Alexander  called  a  meeting  in  which  he  positively  de- 
clared that,  if  they  persisted  in  contesting  the  right  of  the 
Redemptorists  to  the  church-property,  the  Fathers  would 
leave  Pittsburg.  His  words  produced  a  deep  impres- 
sion upon  all  present.  Voices  arose,  some  for  and  some 
against  the  trustee  system.  At  last,  when  things  were 
assuming  a  serious  aspect,  Jacob  Schneider,  an  honest, 
well-meaning  citizen,  the  former  owner  of  the  property 
under  dispute,  arose  and  addressed  the  assembly  in  the 
following  truthful,  laconic,  though  somewhat  blunt  lan- 
guage: "'This  is  none  of  your  affair,  therefore  be  silent. 
No  one  has  a  right  to  a  word  on  the  subject.  All  this 


Superior  of  the  Redemptorists,  Pittsburg.   261 

property  was  once  mine.  I  sold  it  to  Father  Prost;  it 
belongs  to  him.  Now  let  us  say  no  more."  That  Mr. 
Schneider's  statement  was  correct  no  one  could  deny; 
and  so  the  meeting  was  dissolved  without  further  dis- 
cussion. 

In  consequence  of  this  decision  Father  Louis  Cartuy- 
vels  began,  though  under  many  difficulties,  the  erection 
of  the  new  church  of  St.  Philomena. 

On  May  26,  1842,  the  Feast  of  Corpus  Christi,  the  cor- 
ner-stone was  laid  in  presence  of  a  large  concourse  of  peo- 
ple. Two  months  later  the  old  factory  was  taken  down 
and  a  temporary  church  and  school-house  erected.  These 
were  used  until  1847.  During  the  two  years  of  Father 
Cartuyvels'  term  of  office  he  did  much  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  parish;  but,  even  with  the  best  intentions, 
he  found  it  impossible  to  remove  all  difficulties.  His 
successor,  Father  Fey,  feeling  unequal  to  the  onerous 
task,  resigned  into  the  hands  of  Superiors  a  post  which 
he  had  held  only  a  few  weeks,  March  i,  1844. 

The  building  of  the  temporary  chapel  and  school,  to- 
gether with  the  laying  of  the  foundation  of  the  new 
church,  had  already  accumulated  a  considerable  debt. 
The  erection  of  the  latter  was  still  going  on:  how  were 
funds  to  be  procured?  The  parish  was  small,  the  pa- 
rishioners were  poor. 

It  was  under  these  apparently  most  unfavorable  cir- 
cumstances that  Father  Neumann  was  appointed  Superior 
of  St.  Philomena's.  The  chronicles  of  the  congregation 
tell  us  that  by  his  extraordinary  confidence  in  God  he 
accomplished  what  was,  humanly  speaking,  impossible. 
-  On  his  arrival  in  Pittsburg  the  community  gathered 
around  him.  All  witnessed  the  struggle  it  cost  him  to 
take  the  first  place,  the  place  due  to  his  office  of  Superior. 
The  rule  was  quoted,  but  even  then  his  countenance 
betrayed  the  pain  he  felt  at  being  forced  to  take  pre- 
cedence among  his  brethren. 

Shortly   before    Father    Neumann's   appointment   as 


262  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Superior,  Pittsburg  had  been  raised  to  the  dignity  of  a 
bishopric.  In  1843  the  pious  and  learned  Father  Michael 
O'Connor,  Vicar-General  of  the  diocese  of  Philadelphia 
and  an  intimate  friend  of  Father  Neumann,  was  conse- 
crated its  first  Bishop. 

The  erection  of  the  newly-projected  church  of  St. 
Philomena  claimed  the  first  attention  of  the  new  Superior. 
The  entire  responsibility  of  the  undertaking  rested  upon 
him,  even  to  the  direction  of  the  work  in  its  minutest 
details.  He  began  by  forming  a  "Building  Society" 
whose  members  contributed  five  cents  a  week;  even  the 
poorest  of  the  parish  could  command  this  small  sum,  and 
they  paid  their  mite  most  cheerfully.  The  common 
saying  was  again  verified:  "It  is  the  poor  that  build  and 
support  our  churches."  Notwithstanding  the  readiness 
of  his  parishioners  to  fall  in  with  their  good  pastor's 
views,  yet,  as  might  be  expected,  he  sometimes  found 
himself  in  great  pecuniary  straits.  The  saintly  Father 
Seelos  says:  "While  Father  Neumann  was  Superior  in 
Pittsburg  the  beautiful  Gothic  church  of  St.  Philomena 
was  built.  Who  can  estimate  the  weight  of  care  and 
anxiety  that  then  rested  upon  him  with  the  weekly  drain 
on  his  slender  resources  in  the  shape  of  laborers'  wages, 
etc.  ?  The  whole  superintendence  of  the  building  de- 
volved upon  him,  and  what,  under  such  circumstances, 
the  holy  man  endured,  God  alone  knows.  On  the  last 
great  day  He  will  manifest  it  to  the  glory  of  His  faith- 
ful servant.  I  shared,  in  a  measure,  his  anxiety. 
The  workmen  had  to  be  paid  on  Saturday,  and  it  fre- 
quently happened  that  Friday  came  round  and  not  a 
cent  on  hand  for  the  purpose — no  prospect  even  of  ob- 
taining money.  And  yet,  wonderful  to  say,  Saturday 
evening  brought  with  it  the  requisite  sum  for  paying  off 
the  hands." 

St.  Philomena's  is  a  Gothic  structure  one  hundred  and 
sixty  feet  long,  sixty-five  feet  wide,  and  sixty  feet  high 
in  the  middle  nave.  The  steeple  rises  to  the  height  of 


Superior  of  the  Redemptorists,  Pittsburg.    263 

two  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet.  The  proportions  of 
the  entire  building  are  in  harmony,  and  the  effect  pro- 
duced by  the  whole  most  pleasing.  Father  Neumann's 
stay  in  Pittsburg  was  too  short  to  enable  him  to  super- 
intend the  frescoing  of  the  interior,  but  to  him  belongs 
the  honor  of  having  sketched  the  outlines  for  the  same. 
The  beautiful  altars  are  works  of  art;  the  Stations  of  the 
Cross,  the  richly  decorated  statues,  the  stained-glass 
windows — all  tend  to  inspire  the  beholder  with  devotion. 
The  opinion  is  unanimous  that  the  external  structure 
and  the  interior  finish  of  St.  Philomena's  can  rarely  be 
surpassed. 

Let  us  now  consider  Father  Neumann  in  the  midst  of 
his  flock,  for  whose  spiritual  welfare  his  devotedness 
knew  no  bounds.  On  him  devolved  the  burden  of  the 
care  of  souls.  City  and  country  claimed  his  zeal;  and 
had  not  his  presence  been  necessary  for  the  building  of 
the  church,  the  latter,  as  being  the  more  laborious, 
would  have  been  his  by  right  of  preference.  In  the 
confessional,  in  the  pulpit,  in  the  school,  he  was  inde- 
fatigable. He  devoted  himself  especially  to  those  plain 
catechetical  instructions  usually  givet,  in  the  Redemp- 
torist  churches  on  Sunday  afternoons;  here  he  signalized 
himself.  With  what  ease  he  prepared  for  his  sermons  is 
well  known  to  all  who  were  in  any  way  familiar  with 
him;  indeed,  we  may  say  that  he  needed  no  special 
preparation,  since  his  life  of  prayer  and  study  rendered 
him  capable  of  announcing  the  Word  of  God  at  all  times. 
He  ascribed  this  facility  to  a  little  method  adopted  in 
youth.  When  reading  he  noted  down  the  striking 
maxims  or  beautiful  sentiments  presented  by  the  page 
before  him;  whatever  he  thought  might  be  of  benefit 
to  souls  he  made  his  own.  In  this  way  he  laid  by  an 
immense  amount  of  material  which  in  his  free  mo- 
ments he  arranged  to  use  when  expedient  in  sermons, 
conferences,  and  catechetical  instructions.  Did  the 
attendance  on  a  sick-call  involve  some  extra  trouble, 


264  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

it  was  claimed  as  a  right  by  the  devoted  Superior,  whose 
eager  desire  was  to  spare  his  subjects  as  much  as  pos- 
sible. Sometimes  the  latter  complained  of  never  being 
allowed  to  discharge  this  most  onerous  part  of  their 
ministry;  but  they  were  playfully  put  off  with  the  words: 
"  You  need  all  the  rest  you  can  get.  I  cannot  sleep  at 
night,  so  I  might  as  well  go  myself." 

Father  Neumann  was  ever  ready  to  lend  assistance 
and  to  give  advice;  none  ever  left  him  dissatisfied  or 
unconsoled.  As  in  the  early  days  of  his  missionary  life, 
so  now  in  later  years  do  we  find  him  exhibiting  the  same 
affectionate  interest  in  the  education  of  youth.  The 
well-being  and  progress  of  the  schools  were  always  a 
primary  object  with  him,  for  he  was  firmly  convinced 
that  only  Christian  education  can  form  a  good  Catholic 
congregation.  He  took  them  under  his  own  special 
superintendence,  bestowing  upon  them  all  the  time  and 
attention  he  could  possibly  spare  from  other  duties.  He 
excelled,  as  we  have  before  remarked,  in  catechetical 
instructions,  as  he  possessed  in  a  high  degree  the 
secret  of  making  them  pleasing  and  intelligible  to  chil- 
dren. The  simplicity  of  his  explanations  appealed  to 
their  understanding,  whilst  the  piety  of  his  own  true 
heart  awoke  a  corresponsive  flame  in  theirs.  He  was, 
besides,  so  affable,  so  gracious,  so  condescending  toward 
the  little  ones  of  his  flock  that  he  found  at  once  a  way  to 
their  innocent  young  hearts,  he  won  their  whole  con- 
fidence. When  his  well-known  step  was  heard  entering 
the  school-room,  smiles  of  welcome  lit  up  every  face, 
and  great  was  the  disappointment  when  their  good 
Father  Superior  was  prevented  from  paying  his  accus- 
tomed visit.  Crowds  of  these  little  people  used  to  gather 
round  him  on  the  street,  touching  his  hand,  pulling  at 
his  coat,  or  asking  a  blessing.  To  prepare  them  for 
their  First  Communion  was,  of  all  occupations,  his 
chosen  one.  His  care  and  diligence  in  this  duty  was 
unremitting.  He  left  no  means  untried  to  awaken  fervor 


Superior  of  the  Redemptorists,   Pittsburg.   265 

and  piety  in  their  youthful  breasts,  and  to  impress  upon 
their  minds  a  full  understanding  of  what  they  were 
to  receive  in  Holy  Communion.  He  procured,  as  far 
as  in  him  lay,  that  the  day  on  which  they  approached 
the  Holy  Table  for  the  first  time  should  be  celebrated 
with  all  possible  magnificence,  that  the  deep  impression 
made  thereby  on  the  young  communicants  might  cause 
them  ever  to  revert  with  joy  and  gratitude  to  the  ines- 
timable favor  then  bestowed. 

A  catechism  suited  to  the  use  of  our  schools  was,  at 
that  time,  a  desideratum.  Father  Neumann  took  upon 
himself  the  difficult  task  of  compiling  one,  and  its  excel- 
lence has  been  very  generally  acknowledged.  The 
experience  of  many  years  had  taught  him  the  importance 
of  teaching  children  something  of  sacred  history,  in 
order  to  facilitate  their  memorizing  the  answers  of  the 
catechism;  consequently  his  next  step  was  to  write  a 
Bible  History  for  the  use  of  the  schools.  His  day's  work 
over,  he  used  to  spend  the  entire  night  in  such  compila- 
tions, that  the  books  might  be  placed  as  soon  as  possible 
in  the  hands  of  teachers  and  scholars.  These  two  little 
books  are  magnificent  proofs  of  Father  Neumann's 
abilities  as  a  teacher  of  youth,  and  of  the  high  respect 
in  which  he  held  the  Holy  Scriptures;  for,  whilst 
endeavoring  to  make  the  sacred  narrative  intelligible  to 
children,  he  retained  as  far  as  was  practicable  the  words  of 
the  text  through  reverence  for  the  written  Word  of  God. 

He  also  composed  manuals  for  the  various  con- 
fraternities usually  established  in  the  Redemptorist 
churches,  in  order  to  make  known  to  the  members  the 
graces  and  privileges  in  which  they  might  share  and 
the  conditions  necessary  for  doing  so.  He  introduced 
the  Confraternity  of  the  Living  Rosary,  and  in  those 
already  existing  he  endeavored  to  excite  greater  fervor; 
for  he  was  convinced  that  by  such  societies  the  love  of 
Jesus  Christ  and  His  Blessed  Mother  would  take  deeper 
root  in  the  hearts  of  the  faithful. 


266  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Of  the  special  end  of  his  own  Congregation,  the  Mis- 
sions, he  never  lost  sight,  and  he  availed  himself  of  every 
opportunity  to  induce  the  secular  clergy  to  allow  these 
exercises  to  be  preached  in  their  parishes.  Although  his 
parochial  duties  claimed  so  large  a  portion  of  his  time 
and  strength,  yet  he  was  ever  ready  to  undertake  those 
apostolic  labors,  and  often  directed  them  himself.  They 
were,  too,  often  fraught  with  mortifications  and  humilia- 
tions. Father  Seelos  informs  us  of  an  incident  which 
happened  on  one  of  Father  Neumann's  journeys  to  the 
scene  of  one  of  these  missions,  and  which  affords  us  an 
insight  into  his  conduct  under  rebuffs  and  insults.  He 
writes:  "  Father  Neumann  and  I  were  to  give  a  mission 
at  St.  Vincent's,  where  stands  at  present  the  great 
Benedictine  abbey.  We  arrived  in  the  evening  at 
Youngstown,  a  little  village  in  the  neighborhood.  Un- 
able to  continue  our  journey  as  far  as  St.  Vincent's,  we 
were  obliged  to  pass  the  night  in  a  tavern,  so  called.  Our 
reception  was  ungracious  enough,  and  not  without  diffi- 
culty did  we  succeed  in  procuring  something  to  eat. 
After  supper,  we  thought  surely  a  bedroom  would  be 
assigned  us,  but  we  were  disappointed.  We  sat  un- 
noticed on  a  bench  which  was  eventually  to  serve  the 
purpose  of  a  bed.  The  door  was  locked,  and  no  alterna- 
tive left  us  but  to  make  the  best  of  our  situation.  '  We 
shall  have  to  content  ourselves  with  a  bed  like  to  that  of 
the  Fathers  of  the  Desert,'  said  Father  Neumann  good- 
humoredly;  and  spreading  his  cloak  on  the  bench  along 
with  my  own,  he  bade  me  lie  down.  I  did  so  in  obedi- 
ence, whilst  he  sat  up  all  night  in  prayer,  to  which  fact 
may  doubtless  be  ascribed  the  rich  fruits  of  our  mis- 
sion." Father  Seelos  adds:  "  I  could  relate  many  other 
similar  incidents." 

In  this  little  trait  we  behold  Father  Neumann's  paternal 
care  of  his  subjects.  True,  it  was  not  always  in  his 
power  either  to  prevent  or  to  remedy  every  evil;  but  at 
such  times  his  unbounded  confidence  in  God  effected 


Superior  of  the  Redemptorists,  Pittsburg.    267 

what  human  means  could  not.  He  had  recourse  to 
prayer  with  such  ardor,  such  confidence,  such  impor- 
tunity that  of  him  it  might  be  said  as  formerly  of  Jacob: 
"  He  wrestled  with  his  God,  saying,  '  I  will  not  let  Thee 
go,  except  Thou  bless  me.' " 

One  subject  of  deep  regret  to  Father  Neumann  was 
the  want  of  laborers  in  the  Lord's  vineyard,  and  we 
often  find  him  giving  expression  to  it  both  by  word 
and  writing.  Behold  the  following:  "The  scarcity  of 
German  priests  is  sensibly  felt.  The  few  that  we  have 
are  sadly  out  of  proportion  with  the  ever-increasing 
wants  of  the  faithful.  There  are  Catholics  who  have 
not  been  to  confession  for  many  years,  and  there  are 
young  persons  of  nineteen  or  twenty  who  have  noth- 
ing of  Catholicity  about  them  saving  their  baptism, 
— and  all  this  from  the  want  of  priests.  The  longer 
this  need  continues,  the  more  difficult  will  it  be  to 
reanimate  faith  and  the  fear  of  God."  After  forty 
years,  we  behold  in  our  own  day  the  sad  realiza- 
tion of  Father  Neumann's  prediction.  It  was  his  de- 
cided opinion  that  German  Catholics  should  be  attended 
by  priests  of  their  own  nationality.  English-speaking 
priests  do  not  learn  German,  and  the  Germans  acquire 
too  little  English  after  coming  to  this  country  to  un- 
derstand with  profit  the  truths  of  faith  taught  them 
in  that  language.  Therefore  Father  Neumann  suggests 
means  by  which  America  may  be  supplied  with  good 
German  priests.  "  It  cannot  be  expected,"  he  says, 
"that  the  episcopal  seminaries  should  educate  Ger- 
man students  for  the  ministry.  The  best  way  to  pro- 
vide for  this  want  would  be  to  establish  a  society  of 
ecclesiastics  in  Austria  on  the  same  plan  as  the  Semi- 
nary of  Foreign  Missions  or  that  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
in  Paris.  This  association  would,  then,  supply  our 
destitute  States  with  missionaries." 


268  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Of  the  dangers  to  which  youth  is  exposed,  Father 
Neumann's  judgment  was  as  far-seeing  and  profound  as 
it  was  true.  Speaking  of  education,  he  says:  "The 
school-system  of  the  United  States  is  very  liberal  in 
theory;  but  in  reality  it  is  most  intolerant  toward 
Catholics.  Every  one  has  to  contribute  to  the  erection 
and  maintenance  of  the  public  schools,  in  which  instruc- 
tion is  restricted  to  reading,  writing,  and  ciphering.  As 
respects  religious  instruction,  which  is  excluded  from 
those  schools,  parents  are  free  to  have  their  children 
reared  in  whatever  religion  they  please.  Notwithstand- 
ing these  liberal  concessions,  it  cannot  be  doubted  that 
the  young  mind  is  influenced  by  the  irreligious  disposi- 
tions of  the  teacher.  Even  the  text-books  selected  for 
use  are  injurious  to  Catholic  children.  They  are  nothing 
else  than  heretical  extracts  from  a  falsified  Bible,  and 
histories  which  contain  the  most  malicious  perversion 
of  truth,  the  grossest  lies  against  the  doctrines  and  prac- 
tices of  the  Catholic  Church.  The  teachers  are,  for  the 
most  part,  either  Protestants  or  infidels.  Immorality 
reigns  in  these  schools,  especially  in  those  which  are  in 
the  country. 

"  These  circumstances  combine  for  the  spiritual  ruin 
of  Catholic  children;  hence  the  generality  of  Catholic 
priests  forbid  parents  to  send  their  children  to  such 
schools.  But  lukewarm  or  avaricious  parents  heed  little 
their  prohibitions.  They  allege  that  the  English  lan- 
guage, which  is  thoroughly  taught  in  the  public  schools, 
is  necessary  for  their  children's  success  in  life;  and,  as 
they  are  obliged  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  these 
schools,  they  desire  to  derive  some  private  advantage  from 
them.  Many  Catholics,  therefore,  go  to  the  public  schools 
with  immense  detriment  to  both  faith  and  morals."  * 

*  Since  the  above  was  penned  the  educational  system  of  the  United 
States  has  considerably  improved,  and  the  number  of  Catholic  schools 


Superior  of  the  Redemptorists,  Pittsbiirg.    269 

Another  complaint  launched  against  the  Catholics  of 
America  by  Father  Neumann  is  their  custom  of  sending 
their  children  to  work  in  factories  or,  what  is  still  worse, 
allowing  them  to  take  service  in  infidel  or  irreligious 
families  at  an  age  at  which  they  ought  to  attend  school. 

"  It  is  also  quite  common,"  he  goes  on  to  say,  "  for 
parents  to  entrust  young  children  that  are  a  burden 
to  them  to  respectable  and  wealthy  families  by  whom 
they  are  fed,  clothed,  and  instructed  until  the  age 
of  eighteen  or  twenty.  This  is  a  crying  evil.  Ameri- 
can Protestants  are  fanatical;  they  use  every  means 
to  check  the  spread  of  Catholicity.  They  receive  Cath- 
olic children  into  their  families  with  the  secret  inten- 
tion of  destroying  their  faith;  and,  as  they  make  fair 
promises,  the  foolish  parents  think  themselves  fortunate 
in  having  so  well  provided  for  their  little  ones.  They 
will,  it  is  true,  one  day  weep  over  their  own  folly,  but, 
alas!  it  will  then  be  too  late.  The  poor  children  will 
have  not  only  forgotten  parents,  language,  and  religion, 
but  their  education,  based  on  pride,  sensuality,  and  self- 
sufficiency,  leads  them  to  contract  the  vices  of  their 
guardians;  they  are  corrupted  for  life,  they  are  lost  for 
eternity.  Such  cases  are  of  frequent  occurrence,  and,  as 
far  as  my  observation  goes,  no  child  thus  dealt  with  has 
met  a  better  fate.  The  children  of  the  French  and  Irish 
were  in  the  beginning  similarly  situated,  for  which 
reason  the  Bishops  have  strained  every  effort  to  erect  or- 
phan asylums  over  which,  as  a  general  thing,  the  Sisters 
of  Charity  preside.  Asylums  of  the  same  kind  for  our 
German  children  are  necessary.  They  must  be  regarded 
as  the  best,  the  only  means  to  wrest  them  from  the  grasp 
of  infidelity,  and  eventually  from  eternal  death." 


has  greatly  increased,  thus  facilitating  the  attendance  of  Catholic  chil- 
dren. Besides,  the  Bishops  assembled  in  the  Plenary  Council  ex- 
pressed their  views  on  this  head.  They  permit  the  frequentation  of 
the  public  schools  to  Catholic  children  only  on  certain  conditions. 


270  Life  of  Bishop  Neitmann. 

The  rapid  spread  of  secret  societies  was  another  source 
of  grief  to  Father  Neumann.  Let  us  listen  to  him  ex- 
pressing himself  on  this  evil: 

"Several  secret  societies  have  been  formed  lately 
among  infidels  and  non-Catholics;  for  instance,  the 
Freemasons,  the  Odd-fellows,  and  the  Order  of  Red  Men. 
All  assert  that  the  only  object  of  their  association  is 
fraternal  benevolence  and  mutual  support.  But  this  is 
merely  a  specious  cloak.  The  very  oath  tendered  them, 
viz.,  secrecy  as  to  what  goes  on  in  their  meetings,  is  a 
sufficient  reason  to  suspect  their  intention,  and  to  warn 
Catholics  against  communication  with  them.  The  show 
of  philanthropy  and  the  temporal  advantages  they  offer 
their  members  have  induced  the  major  part  of  German 
Protestants  to  swell  their  ranks.  Under  pain  of  exclu- 
sion from  the  Sacraments,  the  Provincial  Council  has 
forbidden  Catholics  to  join  such  societies.  Notwith- 
standing the  prohibition  many  have  been  enticed  into 
them,  and  the  sad  consequences  are  that  they  have 
fallen  away  from  the  faith." 

Of  the  worth  or  worthlessness  of  the  so-called  mixed 
societies,  which  are  neither  religious  nor  masonic,  Father 
Neumann  also  speaks.  In  the  character  imputed  to 
these  associations  lies  the  difficulty  of  passing  a  correct 
judgment  upon  them.  Hence  the  following  opinion, 
which  we  reproduce  word  for  word  as  far  as  possible,  is 
of  special  value:  "  Among  Americans,"  he  says,  "  there 
exists  a  peculiar  hankering  after  unions  and  societies 
having  a  political  or  literary  object.  The  Germans, 
unable  to  resist  their  mania  for  imitation,  have  already 
plunged  into  the  current  of  these  societies.  Admission 
to  them  is  easy  and,  to  swell  their  numbers,  a  kind  of 
propagandism  is  practised,  it  being  incumbent  on  every 
member  to  enlist  others.  Hence  it  happens  that  Ger- 
man Catholics  joining  these  associations,  harmless  per- 
haps in  themselves,  come  into  closer  and  more  frequent 
communication  with  certain  men  than  is  expedient  for 


Superior  of  the  Redemptorists,  Pittsburg.    271 

their  faith  and  morals.  On  many  occasions,  at  funerals, 
anniversaries,  for  example,  sermons  are  preached  and 
prayers  offered  in  Protestant  churches.  Such  demon- 
strations are  exceedingly  pleasing  to  the  American  peo- 
ple despite  their  infidelity.  In  these  sermons,  reason 
and  the  biblical  knowledge  of  the  audience  are  set  up  as 
arbiters;  open  criticism  of  the  preacher  and  his  words  is 
not  only  allowable,  but  even  commendable.  Such  prin- 
ciples are  most  hurtful  to  a  Catholic.  The  childlike 
faith  which  the  Christian  must  possess  in  order  to 
gain  salvation  hereby  sustains  great  injury.  Some  of 
these  poor  Catholics  who,  either  through  stupidity  or 
curiosity  or  the  desire  to  please  acquaintances,  have 
been  present  at  such  sermons  end  by  wishing  their 
priests  no  longer  to  treat  the  Word  of  God  as  a  revela- 
tion of  divine  truth,  but  as  a  scientific  subject  which 
they  themselves  may  freely  discuss  and  decide.  Ser- 
mons, they  say,  should  flatter  their  whims  and  views; 
anything  else  is  distasteful. 

"To  counteract  these  evils,  to  eradicate  them,  or,  at 
least,  to  neutralize  their  pernicious  effects,  the  German 
Catholic  missionary  must  be  endued  with  extraordinary 
prudence  and  constancy.  That  his  parishioners  may  be 
restrained  from  joining  secret  societies,  from  too  inti- 
mate intercourse  with  heretics,  from  the  reading  of 
Protestant  and  immoral  books,  etc.,  a  very  discreet  zeal 
is  needed.  The  proper  remedies  must  be  applied  to 
these  evils.  The  following  appear  the  most  suitable:  in 
our  churches  divine  service  must  be  conducted  with  as 
much  solemnity  as  possible;  solid  and  popular  sermons 
and  instructions  must  be  preached  on  Sundays  and  holy- 
days;  confraternities  must  be  introduced;  newspapers 
and  good  books  must  be  diffused;  but,  above  all,  prayer 
and  the  frequentation  of  the  Sacraments  must  be  insisted 
upon." 

Prejudice  against  our  Holy  Church  was  in  those  days 


272  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

both  bitter  and  wide-spread.  Catholics  were  looked  upon 
as  ignorant  and  superstitious,  taught  by  their  priests 
that  all  who  differed  from  them  in  faith  should  with  fire 
and  sword  be  swept  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  The 
feeling  thus  engendered  against  the  ministers  of  religion 
led  to  their  being  ridiculed,  insulted,  and  sometimes  even 
pelted  with  stones.  It  was  only  by  patience  and  perse- 
verance, the  erection  of  imposing  churches,  school- 
houses,  and  charitable  institutions  that  these  odious 
prejudices  gradually  disappeared. 

In  a  letter  to  the  Archbishop  of  Vienna  Father  Neu- 
mann thus  describes  the  condition  of  Protestantism  in 
America  at  that  period:  "The  delusions  of  the  Metho- 
dists, whose  numbers  are  constantly  on  the  increase  in 
the  United  States,  are  like  the  action  of  nitric  acid  on 
marble;  they  dissolve  the  older  sects  of  Protestantism 
into  a  thousand  different  fragments.  The  erroneous 
doctrines  of  these  new  American  denominations  are 
closely  allied  to  those  of  the  ancient  Gnostics  and  Mani- 
cheans.  As  regards  the  knowledge  of  what  is  holiest 
in  heaven  or  upon  earth,  of  the  eternal  weal  or  woe  of 
immortal  souls,  nothing  is  more  ridiculous  than  the  con- 
fused reveries  of  these  new  sects.  The  terrible  punish- 
ments of  God  are  visibly  afflicting  these  proud,  unfortu- 
nate men  who,  shamefully  heedless  of  the  voice  of  Jesus 
Christ  in  His  Church,  have  separated  from  the  unity  of 
that  spiritual  body  in  which  alone  life  and  holiness  are 
found.  These  sects  which  have  sprung  up  here  within 
the  last  hundred  years  are  all  eagerness  to  begin  the 
millennium,  or  the  thousand  years  of  Christ's  reign  upon 
earth,  whilst  others  imagine  themselves  already  in  it. 
The  best-known  sect  in  these  States  are  the  Shakers, 
who  claim  that  the  millennium  has  already  begun  for 
them;  that  they  all  possess  apostolic  gifts;  that  baptism 
and  the  Holy  Eucharist,  being  only  for  the  first  ages,  are 
no  longer  necessary.  They  deny  the  eternity  of  hell, 


Superior  of  the  Rcdcmptorists,  Pittsburg.   273 

torments,  excepting  in  the  case  of  unfortunate  apostates 
from  their  own  sect.  They  say  that  Christ  will  not  come 
again,  since  He  has  already  come  in  His  Saints  (the 
Shakers]  They  affirm  that  even  now,  in  our  own  time, 
the  Last  Judgment  has  begun;  the  books  are  opened, 
the  dead  are  rising  from  their  graves  and  coming  to  be 
judged  by  them.  They  reject  marriage  because  they  are 
now  in  eternity,  their  old  earthly  Adam  is  destroyed; 
and,  according  to  them,  they  are  already  in  the  splendor 
of  the  bright  and  celestial  intuition  of  God.  They  pre- 
tend that  every  sin  against  God  is  a  sin  against  each 
individual  member  of  their  sect  also,  and  the  sinner  to 
obtain  forgiveness  must  confess  his  crimes  to  them. 
They  likewise  affirm  that  their  leaders  have  free  access 
to  the  spirit-world,  etc. 

"Their  religious  rites  are  mysterious  and  varied. 
Sometimes  they  assemble  on  a  mountain  and,  on  the 
supposition  that  the  time  for  the  spiritual  harvest  has 
arrived,  they  gravely  and  silently  imitate  the  movements 
of  reapers  at  work.  At  a  given  sign  all  make  a  motion 
with  their  hands,  as  if  weeding,  then  as  if  threshing  and 
putting  wheat  into  the  mill.  Then  they  mimic  bakers 
and  cooks,  and  lastly  prepare  a  meal  at  which  all  par- 
take of  invisible  food  and  drink,  accompanied  by  signs 
of  hearty  relish.  Dancing  forms  another  feature  in  their 
religious  ceremonies.  The  dancers,  men  and  women,  in 
a  costume  for  the  occasion,  jump  up  and  down  about 
four  inches  from  the  ground,  interspersing  their  leaps 
with  various  extravagant  movements  of  the  limbs. 
Then  they  sing,  now  high,  now  low,  their  appearance 
leading  one  to  imagine  them  bewitched.  The  violent 
efforts  that  they  make  bring  on  a  relaxation  of  nerves, 
and  they  begin  to  tremble  as  if  with  chills.  Some  clap 
their  hands,  and  others  spring  up  so  high  into  the  air 
that  they  end  by  tumbling  headlong  to  the  ground. 
This  sect  came  to  America  from  England  in  1774,  and 
settled  in  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland.  The 


274  Ltfe  °f  Bishop  Neumann. 

Shakers  have,  however,  earned  a  good  name  for  their 
peaceable  disposition,  and  they  are,  moreover,  excellent; 
farmers." 

Not  so  harmless  were  many  of  the  other  sects  which, 
in  their  fanaticism,  aimed  at  injuring  the  Catholic 
Church  wherever  they  could.  Apostasy  from  her  fold 
they  rewarded  by  temporal  advantages;  in  fact,  they 
supported  whole  families  who  had  been  thus  seduced 
from  their  faith.  Strange  as  it  may  appear,  there  were 
not  wanting  cases  in  which  impoverished  Catholics  were 
willing  to  barter  their  eternal  salvation  for  a  little  tem- 
poral interest.  We  give  the  following  singular  fact  as 
an  illustration  of  this  lamentable  blindness.  A  German 
family,  all  Catholics,  lived  for  some  time  in  a  state  of 
great  destitution;  starvation  stared  them  in  the  face. 
One  of  these  sectarian  proselytizers  asked  the  father  one 
day  to  join  his  church,  promising,  in  the  event  of  his 
doing  so,  to  get  him  plenty  of  work  at  high  wages,  and 
to  furnish  him  at  once  with  a  sum  sufficient  to  help  him 
out  of  his  needy  circumstances.  The  poor  fellow  hesi- 
tated; he  found  himself  in  a  most  embarrassing  position. 
What  answer  should  he  give  ?  He  was  unwilling  to  jeo- 
pardize his  own  and  his  children's  salvation,  yet  could 
he  longer  behold  his  little  ones  pleading  for  that  bread 
which  he  was  unable  give  them?  What  should  he  do? 
It  was,  indeed,  a  fearful  stratagem  of  the  enemy  of  souls. 
At  last  the  poor  man  hit  upon  an  expedient.  Forgetful 
of  the  sin  he  was  thereby  incurring,  he  resolved  to  feign 
apostasy  and  so  obtain  the  needed  help.  He  communi- 
cated his  intention  to  his  wife  in  the  following  words: 
"  Let  us  join  the  heretics  outwardly,  but  in  our  heart  let 
us  still  belong  to  the  Catholic  Church.  Let  us  accept 
both  the  money  and  the  work.  As  soon  as  we  shall  have 
relieved  our  distress,  we  shall  live  again  as  Catholics." 
The  wife  fully  comprehended  the  magnitude  of  the 
crime  such  dissimulation  would  entail,  and  not  without 
a  heavy  heart  did  she  agree  to  her  husband's  proposal. 


Superior  of  tke  Redemptorists,  Pittsburg.    275 

But  hunger  pressed;  she  saw  no  alternative.  The  poor 
creatures  received  the  promised  relief,  but  remorse 
gnawed  like  a  worm  at  their  heart.  Shortly  after  the 
wretched  father  had  occasion  to  go  to  Pittsburg.  It  was 
Sunday  morning,  and  he  was  passing  St.  Philomena's 
Church  just  as  the  High  Mass  began.  He  hears  the 
familiar  sounds  of  the  organ,  and  the  magnificent  strains 
of  the  "  Kyrie"  strike  on  his  ear.  "  Lord,  have  mercy 
on  us!  Lord,  have  mercy  on  us!" — the  words  re-echo  in 
the  depths  of  his  soul,  and,  obedient  to  some  powerful 
interior  impulse,  he  enters  the  house  of  God.  And  why 
does  he  not  pause  there  at  the  door  ?  Where  is  he 
going — he,  the  apostate  ?  Urged  on  by  the  same  invisi- 
ble power  that  bade  him  enter,  he  goes  on  and  on — he 
pauses  not  until  he  reaches  the  sanctuary-rail,  and  there 
he  stands.  Motionless,  breathless,  supporting  himself  on 
his  stick,  he  stands  and  gazes  at  the  sacred  scene  before 
him.  Father  Neumann,  the  Superior,  is  at  the  altar;  he 
it  is  who  is  about  to  offer  the  propitiatory  sacrifice. 
The  more  solemn  parts  of  the  Mass  draw  near, — the 
offertory,  the  sanctus,  the  consecration, — and  still  the 
man  stands  spell-bound  outside  the  rail.  The  celebrant 
divides  the  Sacred  Host  over  the  chalice,  the  Communion 
approaches,  when — hark! — a  cry,  a  groan,  and  the  un- 
happy but  now  contrite  apostate  falls  on  his  knees  in  an 
agony  of  tears  and  repentance.  What  had  he  seen  ?  What 
had  he  heard?  What  forced  that  cry  of  bitter  anguish  from 
his  breast  ?  Let  us  hear  his  own  account:  "When  the 
priest  broke  the  Sacred  Host,  I  saw  drops  of  blood  trick- 
ling from  It!"  For  the  salvation  of  that  one  poor  soul, 
Almighty  God  had  deigned  to  work  a  stupendous  miracle. 
Oh,  how  surpassingly  good  is  God  toward  the  stray  soul 
in  whom  He  can  discover  one  spark  of  faith,  one  feeling 
of  sorrow!  At  the  same  instant  in  which  with  his  corpo- 
ral eyes  the  poor  man  saw  the  blood,  he  seemed  to  hear 
in  his  soul  a  voice,  saying,  "  This  blood  hast  thou  forced 
from  Me  by  thy  apostasy!"  Need  we  say  that  his  con- 


276  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

version  was  accomplished  ?  After  Mass  he  hurried  to 
the  sacristy,  where  he  related  to  Father  Neumann  all 
that  had  happened,  made  a  contrite  confession,  and  in  a 
short  time  led  his  whole  family  back  to  the  bosom  of 
the  Church. 

Innumerable  similar  conversions  were  wrought  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  Fathers,  though  unattended  by 
the  external  miraculous  evidences  accompanying  that 
just  narrated;  consequently  we  must  not  wonder  at  their 
attracting  upon  themselves  the  malevolence  of  Satan  and 
his  emissaries.  Their  hatred  fell  principally  upon  Father 
Neumann,  against  whom  insults  and  annoyances  of  all 
sorts  were  directed.  One  day  a  drunkard  presented 
himself  at  the  residence  of  the  Fathers.  It  so  happened 
that  the  first  one  whom  he  met  was  Father  Neumann, 
the  Superior,  and  upon  him  was  poured  out  the  wrath  of 
the  inebriate.  The  vilest  abuse,  torrents  of  threats  and 
imprecations,  flowed  from  his  foam-covered  lips.  Father 
Neumann  listened  calmly,  and,  after  the  storm  had  some- 
what abated,  asked  in  a  gentle  tone,  "Have  you  any- 
thing more  to  say  ?"  The  fellow  had  sense  enough  left 
to  wonder  at  such  meekness,  and  answered,  "  No,  I  have 
said  all  that  I  have  to  say."  "Well,  then,"  said  Father 
Neumann,  "you  had  better  go  home  and  sleep  off  the 
effects  of  liquor;"  and  he  gently  but  resolutely  led  him  to 
the  door.  Not  long  after,  the  unfortunate  victim  of 
drink  acknowledged  his  error  and  asked  pardon  with 
many  signs  of  confusion.  His  violence  was  intended  for 
Father  Joseph  Miiller,  but  it  fell  upon  Father  Neumann. 
The  latter  failed  not  to  detect  the  mistake.  "  Take  care," 
said  he  to  Father  Mtiller,  "  take  care  not  to  encounter 
.  He  is  greatly  incensed  against  you." 

One  night  an  abandoned  wretch  set  fire  to  the  school- 
house,  which,  like  the  temporary  church  and  the  pastoral 
residence,  was  only  of  wood.  Everything  would  have 
been  consumed  had  not  Almighty  God  frustrated  the 
diabolical  design.  A  Catholic  gentleman,  happening  to 


Superior  of  the  Redcmptorists,  Pittsburg.    277 

drive  down  Penn  Street  about  midnight,  was  interiorly 
urged  to  turn  into  the  narrow  street  in  which  the  school- 
house  stood.  He  discovered  the  fire,  promptly  gave  the 
alarm,  and  thus  the  property  was  saved. 

On  the  first  Sunday  of  October,  1846,  the  Feast  of  the 
Holy  Rosary,  the  beautiful  church  of  St.  Philomena  was 
solemnly  blessed  and  opened  for  divine  service  by  Right 
Rev.  Michael  O'Connor.  This  much  of  the  great  work 
was  accomplished;  but  not  yet  was  it  permitted  Father 
Neumann  to  sing  his  "Nunc  dimittis,"  not  yet  was  it 
his  to  say,  "Now,  O  Lord,  Thou  dost  dismiss  Thy  serv- 
ant in  peace,"  since  his  beloved  little  community  was 
still  unprovided  with  a  suitable  abode.  This,  also,  was 
to  be  his  task,  the  erection  of  a  convent  for  the  Fathers. 
Active  as  ever,  hopeful  as  ever,  trustful  as  ever  in  that 
Providence  which  never  yet  had  failed  him,  he  set  to 
work.  He  wished  the  building  to  correspond,  as  far  as 
possible,  to  the  style  of  the  church,  and  to  furnish  accom- 
modations not  only  for  the  resident  Fathers  and  Brothers, 
but  also  for  whatever  novices  or  students  might  in  the 
future  make  Pittsburg  their  home.  In  its  interior  and 
exterior  arrangements  the  new  convent  was  to  be  mod- 
elled according  to  the  requirements  of  the  rule.  These 
plans  Father  Neumann  happily  carried  out.  The  con- 
vent attached  to  St.  Philomena's  Church  is  the  most  com- 
modious house  of  the  Congregation,  and  up  to  the  pres- 
ent it  has  undergone  no  material  change. 

So  far  we  have  followed  Father  Neumann  in  his  exer- 
tions for  the  well-being  of  others,  for  the  welfare  of  all 
confided  to  his  care.  Let  us  now  turn  our  attention  to 
the  life  led  by  him  in  the  seclusion  of  the  convent. 

The  innumerable  cares  attendant  on  a  large  parish, 
besides  those  entailed  by  the  erection  of  the  buildings  of 
which  we  have  spoken,  never  interfered  with  Father 
Neumann's  conscientious  discharge  of  his  duties  as  a 
religious  whether  as  subject  or  Superior.  The  punc- 
tual observance  of  the  rules  and  customs  of  the  Con- 


278  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

gregation  in  all  their  minutiae  was  his  conscientious  study, 
and  of  his  subjects  he  required  a  similar  exactitude.  The 
difficult  circumstances  with  which  the  Fathers  had  to 
contend  in  those  early  days  of  their  missionary  career  in 
America  rendered  such  exactitude  no  easy  matter;  but, 
by  mildness  and  firmness  joined  to  his  own  example,  he 
succeeded  in  maintaining  regular  observance  in  the  com- 
munity. He  was  convinced  that  religious  attract  upon 
themselves  and  their  labors  the  fulness  of  divine  grace 
only  by  strictly  observing  the  rules  of  their  Order,  and 
acquire  its  spirit  by  walking  in  the  footsteps  of  their 
founder.  Besides,  Father  Neumann  required  nothing  of 
his  brethren  as  Superior  that  he  was  not  ready  to  prac- 
tise himself.  He  shone  a  model  of  all  virtues  common 
to  the  religious  life;  therefore  did  he  always  find  his 
subjects  ready  for  any  sacrifice  demanded  by  the  honor 
of  God,  their  own  sanctification,  or  the  salvation  of  their 
neighbor.  Fathers  Tschenhens,  Cronenberg,  Joseph 
Miiller,  Schaffler,  Hotz,  and  Seelos,  who  had  the  happi- 
ness to  live  under  his  direction  at  the  period  of  which  we 
write,  unanimously  declare  that  in  him  they  never  failed 
to  find  a  vigilant  Superior,  a  loving  Father,  a  kind  and 
obliging  confrere.  Nothing  escaped  his  watchful  eye. 
The  trifling  faults  common  in  a  community,  and  the 
wants  of  its  individual  members,  were  equally  detected 
by  him.  The  former  fell  under  the  ban  of  gentle  reproof; 
the  latter  were  speedily  and  lovingly  supplied.  His 
paternal  solicitude  extended  to  everything,  for  his  only 
desire  was  to  see  the  religious  committed  to  his  care  liv- 
ing happy  and  contented  in  the  faithful  observance  of  the 
rule  and  according  to  the  spirit  of  St.  Alphonsus.  That 
his  efforts  were  successful  we  can  judge  from  their  re- 
sults; for,  amid  poverty,  distress,  and  arduous  labors,  the 
home  of  the  Redemptorist  Fathers  was  ever  the  abode  of 
holy  joy.  We  have  the  foregoing  from  the  saintly  Father 
Seelos,  who,  fifteen  years  later,  wrote  as  follows:  "The 
years  of  1845  anc^  *4^  I  spent  in  Pittsburg,  where  Father 


Superior  of  the  Redemptorists,  Pittsburg.    279 

Neumann  held  to  me  the  place  of  Superior.  I  was  his 
subject,  nay,  rather  his  son.  I  had  just  left  the  novitiate, 
and  the  more  inexperienced  I  was,  the  greater  need  had 
I  of  his  direction.  And,  indeed,  he  was  to  me  in  every 
respect  a  father  whom  I  can  never  forget.  He  taught 
me  how  to  act,  how  to  direct  my  steps  in  the  practical 
walks  of  life;  he  was  my  confessor  and  spiritual  guide; 
he  cared  for  me  in  every  way.  The  remembrance  of  his 
good  example,  his  extreme  modesty,  his  deep  humility, 
and  his  patience  that  overcame  all  difficulties,  will  ever 
be  mine.  Our  poor  abode  was  so  wretched  that  one 
night,  during  a  severe  thunder-storm,  the  rain  poured 
down  upon  our  beds.  We  had  to  leave  our  room  and 
seek  shelter  in  another  part  of  the  house.  I  say  our 
room,  since  we  were  obliged  to  share  one  between  us,  a 
curtain  being  our  only  partition.  I  often  heard  Father 
Neumann  saying  his  prayers  till  late  in  the  night.  He 
generally  slept  so  little  that  I  wondered  how  he  could 
live  and  labor  with  so  little  rest.  As  he  was  accustomed 
to  rise  before  the  appointed  hour,  he  used  to  kindle  the 
fire,  often  bringing  up  the  fuel  himself,  that  the  room 
might  be  warm  before  I  arose." 

His  sincere  humility  and  charity  toward  his  subjects 
rendered  his  spiritual  guidance  easy  and  delightful. 
Was  there  something  disagreeable  or  difficult  to  be 
done,  that  was  his  by  right;  the  easy  or  the  honorable 
he  left  to  his  companions.  His  modesty  was  at  all  times 
so  unaffected,  so  natural,  that  neither  in  word  nor  in  act 
could  an  observer  discover  the  least  indication  of  his 
office  as  Superior.  From  the  rule  he  claimed  no  exemp- 
tion, never  absenting  himself  when  avoidable  from  com- 
munity exercises;  even  if  up  the  greater  part  of  the  night 
on  a  distant  sick-call,  the  morning  meditation  found  him 
in  his  accustomed  place  in  the  oratory. 

He  made  the  monthly  and  the  annual  retreat  pre- 
scribed by  the  rule  with  scrupulous  exactness;  never 
was  he  known  to  omit  them.  Although  engaged  in 


280  Life  of  Bishop  Neinnann. 

superintending  the  buildings,  yet  he  never  failed  to 
announce  to  his  brethren  the  evening  before  his  inten- 
tion of  making  his  monthly  retreat  the  next  day. 

The  habit  of  recollection  seemed  to  have  become  a 
second  nature  to  him.  His  observance  of  silence  was 
truly  exemplary  and  according  to  the  spirit  of  the  rule. 
He  never  spoke  at  prohibited  hours  except  for  real  ne- 
cessity; and,  in  the  true  spirit  of  that  holy  and  sanctify- 
ing virtue,  he  carefully  avoided  all  kinds  of  noise.  But 
if  duty  or  charity  required  him  to  speak,  he  did  so,  and 
in  such  a  manner  that  neither  silence  nor  cordiality  suf- 
fered thereby. 

A  secular  priest  was  for  some  time  a  guest  in  our  con- 
vent. As  he  had  heard  so  much  of  Father  Neumann's 
piety,  he  determined  to  watch  him  narrowly.  He  did  so, 
and  afterward  informed  the  Fathers  both  of  his  resolu- 
tion and  his  inability  to  discover  the  least  fault  in  their 
saintly  Superior. 

In  the  summer  of  1845,  Very  Rev.  Father  de  Held, 
Provincial  of  the  Belgian  Province,  to  which  the  Re- 
demptorists  in  America  at  that  time  belonged,  arrived 
from  Europe,  accompanied  by  Rev.  Father  Bernard.  His 
object  was  to  make  the  visitation  of  the  different  houses 
in  the  United  States.  After  it  was  over,  the  Very  Reverend 
Provincial  expressed  his  opinion  of  Father  Neumann  in 
the  following  terms:  "The  Superior,  Father  Neumann, 
is  a  great  man.  He  unites  eminent  prudence  and  firm- 
ness of  character  with  true  piety.  Were  it  not  that  I 
have  already  appointed  Father  Czackert  as  my  repre- 
sentative in  America,  I  would  choose  Father  Neumann 
for  that  post." 

The  Reverend  Visitor's  intentions  respecting  Father 
Neumann  were,  however,  soon  to  be  realized.  But  before 
his  appointment  as  Provincial  of  the  Redemptorists  in 
America,  we  shall  behold  Father  Neumann  undergoing 
a  severe  trial.  Almighty  God  willed  to  purify  him  for 
the  responsible  office  to  which  He  destined  him  by  a  very 


Superior  of  the  Redemptorists,  Pittsburg.    281 

serious  illness  which  brought  with  it  grave  thoughts  of 
death.  The  mental  and  physical  strain  to  which  he  had 
so  long  been  subjected  at  last  began  to  tell  upon  him; 
his  strength  gave  way,  and  serious  apprehensions  were 
entertained  that  his  days  were  drawing  to  a  close.  A 
constant  cough,  accompanied  by  spitting  of  blood,  were 
looked  upon  as  sure  indications  of  pulmonary  troubles. 
He  who  had  been  ever  solicitous  for  the  well-being  of 
others  now  forgot  himself.  The  Fathers  repeatedly 
urged  him  to  spare  himself  and  to  take  the  advice  of  a 
physician,  but  all  in  vain.  He  answered  with  a  smile, 
"  It  is  nothing.  I  shall  soon  be  well." 

At  last  his  brethren  believed  themselves  in  duty  bound 
to  procure  an  order  from  the  Provincial  for  Father  Neu- 
mann to  submit  to  medical  treatment.  A  physician  was 
consulted,  and,  after  a  thorough  examination  of  the  sick 
man,  he  declared  his  lungs  involved:  the  worst  results 
were  to  be  feared  if  remedies  were  not  promptly  admin- 
istered. The  invalid  submitted  to  the  physician  in  a 
spirit  of  obedience,  and  after  a  few  weeks  was  pro- 
nounced out  of  danger.  "  But,"  added  Dr.  N ,  "  if 

he  wishes  to  be  restored  to  health,  Father  Neumann 
must  leave  Pittsburg." 

At  this  announcement,  Father  Czackert,  the  Vice- 
Provincial,  summoned  Father  Neumann  to  Baltimore, 
January  27,  1847.  The  latter  obeyed,  leaving  the  con- 
vent attached  to  St.  Philomena's,  and  which  had  pro- 
gressed most  satisfactorily,  to  be  completed  by  his  suc- 
cessor. 


282  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Father  Neumann  Vice-Provincial  of  the  Redemp- 
torists  in  America. 

T7ATHER  NEUMANN  was  destined  not  long  to  en- 
-L  joy  the  rest  he  so  much  needed.  At  the  end  of 
two  weeks,  February  9, 1847,  he  received  a  letter  bearing 
date  December  15,  1846,  in  which  Father  de  Held  ap- 
pointed him  Superior  of  the  American  Province.*  Great 
was  Father  Neumann's  surprise  on  receipt  of  this  news. 
In  his  humility  and  love  of  retirement,  his  only  desire 
was  to  live  and  die  as  a  simple  religious,  and  he  had 
flattered  himself  that  his  present  state  of  health  would 
necessarily  contribute  to  the  fulfilment  of  his  wishes. 
But  Divine  Providence  had  ordained  otherwise:  the  more 
important  the  more  onerous  position  of  Vice-Provincial, 
was  now  laid  upon  him.  Again  must  he  put  his  hand  to 
the  plough,  and  again  shall  we  behold  him  neither  falter- 
ing nor  looking  back;  but,  strong  in  the  strength  of  con- 
fidence in  the  All-Powerful,  with  St.  Paul  he  stretches 
forward  to  the  things  before  him.  The  larger  the  field 
opened  up  to  his  labors,  the  more  brightly  glowed  his 
zeal  for  the  glory  of  God,  the  welfare  of  his  brethren, 
and  the  salvation  of  souls. 

To  form  a  correct  estimate  of  Father  Neumann  in  his 
new  position,  it  is  fitting  that  we  cast  a  retrospective 
glance  at  the  formation  of  some  parishes  which  were,  at 
that  time,  in  the  hands  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Most 
Holy  Redeemer. 

*  Father  Frederick  de  Held  died  April  20,  1881,  at  Vaals,  in  Hol- 
land, at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty  years,  in  the  sixtieth  of  his  re- 
ligious profession  and  the  fifty-eighth  of  his  priesthood. 


Vice-Provincial  of  the  Redemptorists.  283 
• 

The  early  history  of  St.  Alphonsus'  and  St.  James's, 
Baltimore,  we  have  already  sufficiently  dwelt  upon,  as 
also  that  of  St.  Philomena's,  Pittsburg.  Let  us,  there- 
fore, turn  our  attention  to  St.  Joseph's,  Rochester.  We 
remember  that  Father  Prost  left  here  in  1838,  from 
which  date  till  the  close  of  1839,  almost  a  year,  the  Ger- 
man Catholics  were  without  a  pastor;  Father  Sanderl 
was  then  sent  to  take  charge  of  them. 

In  spite  of  manifold  difficulties  and  contradictions,  the 
building  of  the  new  church  went  on  without  interrup- 
tion. Father  Bayer,  having  been  appointed  Superior  at 
Rochester,  so  energetically  pushed  forward  the  work, 
that  on  August  15,  1843,  the  Feast  of  Our  Lady's 
Assumption,  the  corner-stone  was  laid.  The  following 
January  he  went  to  Europe,  leaving  his  place  to  be 
supplied  by  Father  Beranek,  who  had  just  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  St.  Peter's,  Philadelphia.  He  arrived  in  Roch- 
ester to  find  the  new  church  there  just  as  .far  advanced 
as  the  one  he  had  left.  Two  years  and  a  half  later,  July 
26,  1846,  the  Feast  of  St.  Ann,  St.  Joseph's  Church, 
Rochester,  was  dedicated. 

We  shall  now  glance  at  the  most  important  establish- 
ment of  the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer 
in  America,  viz.,  that  of  New  York.  The  Fathers  had  re- 
ceived an  invitation  to  settle  in  New  York  City,  under 
pretty  much  the  same  circumstances  as  those  recorded 
of  Pittsburg  and  Baltimore.  Until  1833,  the  German 
Catholics  of  New  York  had  no  priest  of  their  own  nation- 
ality. About  this  time  Father  Raffeiner,  as  before  stated, 
arrived  in  that  city  with  the  intention  of  joining  the  Re- 
demptorists. But  changing  his  mind,  he  devoted  himself 
to  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  Germans  whom  he  found 
there.  Renting  a  blacksmith-shop  at  the  corner  of  Pitt 
and  Delancy  streets,  he  there  held  divine  service. 

Two  years  later,  1835,  he  purchased  a  Protestant 
meeting-house,  and  finally  built  the  little  church  of  St. 
Nicholas  in  Second  Street.  Father  Raffeiner  had  labored 


284  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

A 

among  the  Germans  for  about  six  years,  when,  worn  out 
by  the  continued  opposition  of  the  trustees,  he  sought 
another  field  of  action  in  Williamsburg,  opposite  the 
city  of  New  York. 

Several  other  priests  successively  endeavored  to  guide 
the  parish  of  St.  Nicholas,  but  all  found  it  impossible  to 
cope  with  the  difficulties  of  their  position.  Finally,  Right 
Rev.  Bishop  Hughes  called  the  Redemptorist  Fathers  to 
New  York.  On  August  21,  1842,  Father  Rumpler  took 
charge  of  the  German  Catholics,  and  three  months  later 
Father  Joseph  Mtiller  joined  him  as  assistant.  No  sooner 
was  the  change  effected  than  the  Fathers  saw  them- 
selves confronted  by  the  opposition  of  the  trustees,  who 
managed  to  embitter  and  render  still  more  difficult  their 
already  onerous  duties.  It  is  almost  incredible  to  what 
petty  annoyances  these  men  condescended  to  stoop. 
They  wished  to  control  everything:  even  the  number  of 
candles  on  the  altar  was  to  be  determined  by  them. 

Despite  these  bitter  animosities  and  persecutions, 
Father  Rumpler  courageously  persevered  in  laboring 
for  the  souls  confided  to  him,  and  energetically  carried 
out  his  plan  for  the  erection  of  a  second  church  for  the 
German  Catholics  of  New  York.  His  efforts  were  more 
than  successful.  The  very  next  year  he  purchased  for 
two  thousand  dollars  a  lot  in  Third  Street;  and  on  Sep- 
tember 19,  1843,  he  announced  to  his  congregation  that, 
with  the  Bishop's  approbation,  he  intended  to  form  a 
new  parish.  On  Ash- Wednesday  of  1844  the  corner- 
stone of  a  temporary  church  was  laid,  and  on  Easter 
Sunday,  April  2oth,  the  Church  of  the  Most  Holy  Re- 
deemer was  dedicated  and  opened  for  service.  Several 
Fathers  were  sent  to  Father  Rumpler's  assistance,  and 
service  was  regularly  held  in  both  churches.  The  for- 
mation of  a  second  German  parish  created  much  opposi- 
tion at  first  on  the  part  of  the  trustees  mentioned  above; 
but  by  degrees  minds  became  calm,  and  the  Church  of 
the  Most  Holy  Redeemer  proved  a  source  of  the  richest 


Vice-Provincial  of  the  Redemptorists.     285 

blessings  to  Catholics  at  large.  In  June,  1844,  the  Ca- 
puchin Fathers  Ambrose  Buchmeyerand  Felician  Krebes 
assumed  the  care  of  St.  Nicholas'  parish,  and  the  Re- 
demptorists  were  enabled  to  devote  their  undivided  en- 
ergies to  the  welfare  of  the  new  parish.  God  blessed 
their  labors.  They  had  begun  modestly — a  temporary 
frame  church,  with  a  school-room  capable  of  accommo- 
dating about  one  hundred  children.  Ten  years  later,  on 
that  very  site,  Archbishop  Hughes  consecrated  the  pres- 
ent beautiful  Church  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer,  and 
the  little  school-room  has  given  place  to  a  building 
whither  fourteen  hundred  children  flock  for  instruction. 
Besides  their  own  churches  in  New  York  City,  the  Fath- 
ers attended  to  over  twenty  country  missions  throughout 
the  State. 

The  next  Redemptorist  foundation  took  place  in  Phil- 
adelphia. The  various  parishes  of  which  the  Fathers 
had  hitherto  accepted  the  charge  were,  without  exception, 
disorganized  and  divided  by  party-spirit ;  now,  however, 
we  find  one  deviation  from  this  general  rule,  and  that 
was  St.  Peter's,  Philadelphia.  Apart  from  the  difficulties 
inseparably  connected  with  every  new  foundation,  the 
most  amicable  relations  here  existed  between  the  parish- 
ioners and  their  pastors,  the  former  faithfully  co-operat- 
ing with  the  latter.  This  happy  state  of  things  was 
owing  in  part,  no  doubt,  to  the  sad  experience  connected 
with  the  church  of  the  Holy  Trinity,  which  had  up  to 
that  time  been  the  only  German  Catholic  church  in 
Philadelphia. 

Provided  with  a  letter  from  Bishop  Kenrick,  then 
Bishop  of  Philadelphia,  to  the  Redemptorist  Fathers,  a 
deputation  proceeded  to  Baltimore  in  order  to  present 
a  petition  to  the  Provincial,  Father  Alexander,  begging 
him  to  take  charge  of  St.  Peter's  parish.  After  mature 
deliberation  with  his  counsellors,  Father  Alexander 
granted  the  request,  and  promised  to  visit  Philadelphia 
himself  for  the  purpose  of  making  all  necessary  arrange- 


286  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

ments.  On  the  site  where  now  stands  the  large  and 
beautiful  school-house,  three  old  frame  houses  were 
turned  into  a  temporary  church.  The  commencement 
was,  indeed,  poor  enough ;  but  it  was  favorable,  and 
God's  blessing  rested  visibly  upon  it.  The  reader  may 
form  some  idea  of  the  poverty  of  this  young  parish  from 
the  fact  that  the  collection  during  the  first  solemn  ser- 
vices held  in  the  church  amounted  to  one  dollar  and  forty 
cents !  About  one  hundred  children  attended  the  school 
during  the  first  year.  Father  Sanderl,  the  first  pastor, 
was  succeeded  in  June  of  the  same  year  by  Rev.  Father 
Beranek,  who  laid,  as  we  have  elsewhere  remarked,  the 
foundations  of  the  present  church.  He  was  unexpected- 
ly removed  to  Rochester  in  1843,  and  his  successor, 
Father  Louis  Cartuyvels,  continued  the  work  as  vigor- 
ously as  his  means  would  allow. 

About  this  time,  Philadelphia  was  the  scene  of  certain 
lawless  transactions  disgraceful  alike  to  society  and 
humanity,  viz.,  the  violent  persecution  of  Catholics  by 
the  so-called  Native  American  Party.  This  fanatical 
mob,  composed  of  sectarians  of  every  stripe,  roamed  the 
streets,  burning  down  churches  and  dwellings,  and  mur- 
dering inoffensive  citizens.  Many  Catholics  fell  victims 
to  these  cruel  proceedings  on  May  7,  1844,  in  the  north- 
ern and  eastern  section  of  the  city  near  St.  Peter's 
Church.  On  the  8th,  St.  Michael's,  with  the  convent  of 
the  Sisters  of  Charity  hard  by,  was  consigned  to  the 
flames  ;  whilst  in  another  direction,  St.  Augustine's, 
together  with  the  pastoral  residence,  was  similarly  de- 
stroyed. Strange  that  St.  Peter's,  situated  about  midway 
between  these  two  churches,  should  have  been  spared! 
Yet  so  it  was.  Divine  Providence  had  manifestly  cast 
around  this  humble  germ  of  a  new  parish  the  mail  of  Its 
mighty  protection.  Under  the  direction  of  Father  Fey, 
the  present  edifice  was  completed  and  opened  for  divine 
service,  December  29,  1844.  On  February  14,  1847,  it 
was  consecrated  by  Right  Rev.  Francis  Patrick  Kenrick. 


Vice-Provincial  of  the  Redemptorists.     287 

One  among  the  most  memorable  of  the  Redemptorist 
foundations  was  that  of  St.  Mary's  (Marienstadt)  among 
the  mountains  of  Pennsylvania,  destined  to  be  handed 
over  at  a  later  period  to  the  Benedictines.  A  company 
of  German  Catholics  had  purchased  here  an  immense 
tract  of  land,  forty-eight  thousand  acres,  with  the  design 
of  establishing  a  colony.  Father  Sanderl  had  several 
times  visited  the  district  from  Pittsburg,  and  adminis- 
tered the  Sacraments  to  the  colonists  ;  but  only  in  1843 
did  Father  Alexander  accept  the  offer  to  take  permanent 
charge  of  their  spiritual  welfare.  He  it  was  who  gave 
to  the  colony  the  name  of  St.  Mary's.  To  Father  Car- 
tuyvels  and  Brother  Louis,  the  latter  an  expert  builder, 
was  assigned  the  care  of  erecting  in  the  wilderness  a 
temporary  church,  together  with  a  school  and  dwelling. 
In  1845  Father  Alexander  arrived  in  capacity  of  Supe- 
rior. His  interest  was  enlisted  in  the  welfare  of  the  little 
colony,  and  he  exerted  himself  in  every  way  to  further 
it.  To  ameliorate  the  poverty  existing  among  the  colo- 
nists, he  tried  to  engage  them  in  agriculture.  He  also 
put  up  a  larger  church,  convent,  and  school.  The  first  of 
these,  a  frame  structure,  sixty  by  thirty  feet,  was  made  to 
serve  three  purposes.  The  school  was  at  first  attended 
by  only  thirty  children,  whom  Brother  Xavier  instructed  ; 
but  immigration  soon  swelled  its  numbers,  so  that  by 
1847  the  pupils  counted  one  hundred  and  sixty-two,  the 
colonists  having  increased  to  two  thousand  souls.  The 
poverty  of  the  immigrants  was  extreme  ;  the  majority 
had  come  without  any  means  of  subsistence,  and  even 
the  necessaries  of  life  were  wanting.  Whence  were  food 
and  clothing  to  be  procured  for  them?  Very  little  could 
be  expected  from  the  rude,  uncultivated  soil.  The 
Fathers  shared  their  bread  with  the  hungry,  and  the 
contributions  received  from  their  brethren  in  the  differ- 
ent cities  were  freely  distributed  to  the  poverty-stricken 
multitude.  A.  daily  allowance  of  soup  was  given  to  the 
poor  children  of  the  school  from  the  convent-kitchen  ; 


288  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

and  it  was  truly  a  touching  sight,  these  miserably  clad 
little  ones  kneeling  during  Holy  Mass,  their  tiny  hands 
folded  and  clasping  the  spoon  soon  to  be  put  to  good 
use.  Louis  I.  of  Bavaria,  his  chaplain  Father  Miiller, 
and  the  Most  Reverend  Archbishop  of  Munich  sent 
generous  donations  to  the  sufferers,  whilst  Father  Alex- 
ander himself  was  not  deterred  from  incurring  debt  in 
order  to  assist  them.  But  it  was  not  in  accordance  with 
the  designs  of  God  that  the  Redemptorists  should  es- 
tablish themselves  at  St.  Mary's.  The  labors  of  agricul- 
ture entered  not  into  their  special  vocation,  and  Superiors 
resolved  to  transfer  the  colony  to  an  Order  one  of  whose 
particular  ends  is  the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  In  1848, 
therefore,  St.  Mary's  was  handed  over  to  the  Benedic- 
tines. 

Before  resuming  the  thread  of  Father  Neumann's  life, 
we  shall  mention  briefly  some  other  foundations  estab- 
lished previously  to  the  time  of  his  appointment  as 
Provincial.  In  1844  the  Fathers  were  invited  to  Buffalo 
by  Bishop  Hughes ;  and  here  the  oft-told  tale  was 
repeated,  troubles  arising  from  the  trustee-system.  The 
stubborn  resistance  of  the  trustees  belonging  to  the 
church  of  St.  Louis  against  lawful  authority  obliged  the 
Bishop  to  place  it  under  interdict.  But,  not  to  leave  the 
well-disposed  members  of  the  congregation  destitute  of 
a  pastor,  he  transferred  the  parish  to  the  Redemptorists, 
assigning  to  them  provisionally  the  church  of  St.  Patrick 
as  a  place  of  service  for  the  German  Catholics.  The 
Fathers  readily  assented  to  the  Bishop's  arrangements, 
and  during  that  same  year  built  a  temporary  church  for 
their  large  congregation  on  the  corner  of  Batavia  and 
Pine  streets.  This  site  is  now  that  of  the  spacious  and 
beautiful  St.  Mary's. 

Bishop  Timon,  who  had  meantime  been  made  first 
Bishop  of  Buffalo,  speaks,  in  his  work  entitled  "  The 
Missions  of  the  Western  Part  of  the  State  of  New  York," 
of  the  labors  of  the  Fathers  in  the  temporary  church. 


Vice- Provincial  of  the  Redemptorists.     289 

He  makes  use  of  the  following  words:  "The  Redemp- 
torists had  already  begun  a  house  in  Buffalo,  where  they 
were  laboring  most  successfully.  They  resided  in  a 
wretched  dwelling,  and  had  to  labor  in  a  church  that 
scarcely  deserved  the  name  of  church.  Yet  at  every  ser- 
vice it  was  crowded  with  the  faithful.  The  zealous 
Fathers  did  an  extraordinary  amount  of  good." 

During  the  same  year,  1844,  the  Redemptorists  gave 
a  mission  in  Monroe,  Michigan,  to  a  congregation  at 
that  time  without  a  pastor.  At  its  close,  Bishop  Lefevre, 
of  Detroit,  expressed  his  desire  to  leave  the  parish 
in  the  hands  of  the  Fathers,  that  they  might  there 
establish  a  mission-house.  To  this  he  was  impelled  by 
the  conviction  of  the  good  that  would  emanate  from 
this  most  powerful  means  of  salvation.  Father  Neu- 
mann, the  Vice-Provincial,  was  not  the  man  to  put  obsta- 
cles in  the  way  of  any  such  design  ;  consequently,  in 
June  of  that  year,  the  Fathers  took  charge  of  the  parish. 
Under  their  administration  it  increased  so  rapidly  that 
the  church  had  to  be  enlarged  the  following  year.  On 
December  8,  1845,  it  was  solemnly  consecrated  by  Bishop 
Lefevre,  under  the  title  of  the  Immaculate  Conception. 
We  may  judge  of  the  success  of  the  Fathers  at  Monroe 
from  the  annals  of  the  above-mentioned  church,  which 
record  four  thousand  members  as  belonging  to  its  Tem- 
perance Society. 

In  1846  the  Redemptorists  took  charge  of  St.  Mary's 
Church,  Detroit,  under  circumstances  similar  to  those 
that  influenced  their  installation  among  the  German 
Catholics  of  Buffalo.  The  parish  under  trustee  govern- 
ment had  lapsed  into  the  direst  confusion.  Bishop  Le- 
fevre engaged  the  Fathers  to  give  a  mission  to  the  con- 
gregation, after  which  he  handed  the  church  over  to 
them. 

During  the  same  year  the  German  Catholics  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  were  also  provided  for  by  the  Redemptot- 
ists,  and  St.  Mary's  Church  built  for  their  use. 


290  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Father  Neumann's  Labors  as  Vice-Provincial. 

WHEN  Father  Neumann  entered  upon  his  duties 
as  Vice-Provincial,  he  found  ten  houses  of  the 
Congregation  in  America,  with  about  thirty  Fathers,  a 
number  totally  inadequate  to  the  work  devolving  on 
them.  Besides  the  care  of  their  own  extensive  parishes, 
many  mission-stations  were  depending  upon  them  at 
this  time.  The  German  Catholics  scattered  throughout 
the  country  districts  would  meet  together,  sometimes 
from  a  distance  of  over  one  hundred  miles,  and  build  a 
little  log-church  hardly  suitable  for  divine  service. 
Thither  a  Redemptorist  would  make  his  way,  sometimes 
on  horseback,  again  on  foot  (for  railways,  we  may  be- 
lieve, were  not  common  in  those  parts  at  that  remote 
period),  to  preach  the  Word  of  God,  celebrate  the  Holy 
Sacrifice,  and  administer  the  Sacraments  to  the  faithful. 
Father  Neumann  had  from  the  first  rightly  appreci- 
ated the  immensity  of  the  work  assigned  the  Congrega- 
tion of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer  in  America  ;  he  under- 
stood the  difficulties  that  the  Fathers  would  encounter  in 
their  respective  establishments;  he  was  well  aware  that 
the  labor  surpassed  the  strength  of  the  laborers  ;  he  was 
practically  acquainted  with  their  poverty  ;  and  he  had 
felt  the  pressure  of  debt.  He  was  conscious  that  the 
major  part  of  the  labors  and  contradictions  consequent 
upon  such  a  situation  had  been  laid  on  his  own  shoulders  ; 
but  the  full  measure  of  the  sufferings,  the  persecutions, 
the  humiliations  that  fell  to  his  share  during  the  short 
term  of  his  office  as  Vice-Provincial,  he  certainly  could 
not  foresee. 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  291 

Does  it  not  seem  as  if  God  willed  that  this  new  dignity, 
to  which  in  His  wisdom  He  had  raised  His  faithful  ser- 
vant, should  serve  as  a  novitiate  for  the  honor  and  burden 
of  the  episcopacy  ?  We  have  every  reason  to  believe  that 
this  was,  indeed,  the  design  of  Divine  Providence,  when 
we  behold  Father  Neumann  passing  through  this  trying 
ordeal  ;  and  we  marvel  at  the  resignation  with  which  he 
shouldered  the  burden  and  began  the  discharge  of  the 
arduous  duties  attached  thereto.  We  may,  perhaps, 
search  for  the  secret  of  his  strength  :  we  shall  find  it  in 
his  unbounded  confidence  in  God,  his  humble  diffidence 
of  self. 

During  the  short  period  of  his  Provincialship  he 
effected  extraordinary  and  lasting  results  for  the  good 
of  the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer. 

The  establishment  of  the  Redemptorists  at  New  Or- 
leans was  principally  owing  to  his  energy. 

In  the  fall  of  1843  Father  Czackert  went  to  New  Or- 
leans to  collect  for  the  building  of  St.  Philomena's 
Church,  Pittsburg.  Archbishop  Blanc  received  him  most 
cordially,  offered  him  the  hospitality  of  the  archiepisco- 
pal  mansion,  and  entreated  him  to  take  an  interest  in 
the  spiritual  concerns  of  the  German  Catholics  of  the 
city.  Father  Czackert  willingly  assented  to  the  wishes 
of  the  Archbishop,  earnestly  hoping,  at  the  same  time, 
that  Superiors  would  at  some  future  day  consent  to  make 
a  foundation  there. 

Service  for  the  Germans  was  held  at  first  in  the 
French  chapel  of  St.  Vincent  de  Paul.  But  soon  after 
Father  Czackert  removed  to  that  part  of  the  city  which 
is  called  Lafayette,  where  he  hired  a  hall  from  the 
Protestants  and  fitted  it  up  for  a  chapel.  On  December 
3,  1843,  he  bought  near  Josephine  Street  some  lots  on 
which  to  erect  a  temporary  church.  The  building  ma- 
terials were  collected  and  the  work  about  to  be  begun 
when  Father  Czackert  was  called  away  by  his  Superiors. 
But  as  the  Archbishop  was  fully  determined  that  the 


292  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

post  should  be  held  by  the  Redemptorists,  Father  Kun- 
dek  continued  the  building  of  the  church  in  their  name. 
On  January  14,  1844,  the  corner-stone  was  laid,  and  on 
April  i4th  of  the  same  year  the  church  was  solemnly 
dedicated  under  the  title  of  the  Assumption  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin.  In  1847  Father  Czackert's  hopes  for 
the  foundation  of  a  house  of  his  Congregation  in  New 
Orleans  were  realized,  and  he  was  deputed  by  his 
Superiors  to  begin  the  work.  He  started  on  his  mission 
with  Louis  Kenning,  a  lay-brother,  who  proved  himself 
a  most  faithful  companion. 

The  Archbishop  was  greatly  rejoiced  at  the  success  of 
his  enterprise.  He  installed  Father  Czackert  himself  as 
pastor  of  the  German  church,  and  expressed  his  wish 
for  the  Fathers  to  take  charge  also  of  the  English  and 
the  French  parishes  in  the  same  part  of  the  city. 

Shortly  after,  Father  Neumann  sent  two  Fathers  and 
two  lay-brothers  to  New  Orleans  to  assist  those  already 
there.  In  the  summer  of  1848  Brother  Louis  opened  a 
school  with  only  fourteen  scholars  on  the  first  day  ;  at 
the  end  of  a  month  the  number  had  increased  to  forty. 

The  early  foundation  of  this  house  was  marked  by 
great  trials.  Poverty,  added  to  hardships  and  contra- 
dictions of  all  kinds  here,  as  in  other  places,  fell  to  the 
lot  of  the  sons  of  St.  Alphonsus.  In  addition  to  all  this, 
yellow  fever,  that  terrible  scourge  of  New  Orleans,  raged 
in  the  city.  In  September  both  the  Fathers  and 
Brothers  were  stricken  down  by  the  disease.  Not  one 
was  left  to  nurse  his  brethren.  The  Vicar-General  of 
the  diocese  and  other  members  of  the  clergy  magnani- 
mously offered  them  every  relief;  they  nursed  the  sick 
and  attended  to  their  pastoral  duties.  But  alas  !  de- 
spite the  care  bestowed  upon  him,  good  Father  Czack- 
ert succumbed  to  the  violence  of  the  disease.  He,  the 
zealous  founder  of  the  Redemptorists  in  New  Orleans 
was  the  first  in  the  long  line  of  victims  to  the  dreadful, 
scourge  recorded  in  the  annals  of  the  Congregation. 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  293 

His  death  occurred  September  2,  1848,  just  five  years 
after  his  first  visit  to  New  Orleans. 

Father  Petesch  now  stood  alone  in  the  midst  of  an 
overwhelming  amount  of  labor.  He  longed  for  assist 
ance,  but  none  could  be  granted,  as  Superiors  could  not 
conscientiously  send  a  Father  to  New  Orleans  whilst  the 
fever  was  raging.  Father  Neumann's  kind  heart  was 
torn  by  the  thought  of  the  good  Father's  isolated  posi- 
tion. He  consoled  and  encouraged  him  by  his  letters, 
and  that  was  all  he  could  then  do.  One  of  his  letters  ran 
thus: 

"lam  truly  concerned  about  you,  dear  Father,  not 
only  on  account  of  the  immense  weight  of  duty  that 
now  devolves  upon  you,  but  also  for  your  health  and 
your  life.  Your  heroic  resolution  to  remain  and,  if 
needs  be,  die  at  your  post  is,  indeed,  a  subject  of  conso- 
lation to  all  your  brethren,  as  well  as  to  myself.  It 
would,  however,  be  a  heavy  blow  to  us  to  lose  you. 
May  God's  holy  will  be  done  !"  Father  Neumann  goes 
on  to  express  his  deep  regret  at  being  unable  to  send 
Fathers  to  New  Orleans  whilst  the  epidemic  was  raging, 
since  one  not  acclimated  would  surely  fall  a  victim  to 
its  attacks. 

About  this  period,  Father  Neumann  turned  his  eyes 
toward  Cumberland,  a  flourishing  town  in  the  north- 
western part  of  Maryland,  wherein  to  establish  a  new 
foundation.  For  years  the  Redemptorist  Fathers  from 
Baltimore  had  visited  the  German  Catholics  of  Cumber- 
land, and  administered  to  them  the  consolations  of 
religion.  Father  Neumann  when  in  Baltimore  had  him- 
self often  made  the  journey  of  one  hundred  and  eighty 
miles — a  journey  long  enough  in  those  days — for  the 
same  purpose;  and  the  beautiful  situation  of  the  little 
town  was  not  lost  on  him.  He  now  set  about  realizing 
his  plan  of  a  foundation,  deputing  Father  Urbanzek  and 
Brother  Adam  to  begin  the  good  work.  His  first  care 
was  for  the  church,  which  he  resolved  should  be  spacious 


294  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

enough  to  accommodate  a  large  congregation.  On 
June  4,  1848,  the  corner-stone  of  the  present  church  of 
Sts.  Peter  and  Paul  was  laid  by  Archbishop  Eccleston,  of 
Baltimore.  September  23d  of  the  following  year  be- 
held the  dedication  of  the  same  by  Rev.  Father  Bernard, 
who  had  succeeded  Father  Neumann  as  Provincial. 
The  magnificent  site  of  the  convent,  perched  as  it  is  on 
a  hill,  joined  to  the  healthfulness  of  the  locality,  sug- 
gested, even  at  that  early  date,  the  idea  of  establishing 
there  the  novitiate  and  House  of  Studies.  This  pro- 
ject was  carried  out  at  a  later  period. 

The  early  history  of  the  Cumberland  foundation 
records  its  share  of  crosses  and  difficulties;  but  it  pros- 
pered in  the  end  and  soon  became  the  favorite  spot  of 
the  Redemptorists,  who  for  many  years  attended  the 
faithful  far  and  near  and  formed  them  into  parishes. 
At  the  present  day,  these  various  stations,  the  fruits  of 
the  zeal  and  labors  of  the  Redemptorist  Fathers,  can 
boast  their  own  churches  and  pastors. 

The  same  period  beheld  Father  Neumann's  energies 
directed  to  a  second  undertaking  similar  to  the  one 
above  recorded,  viz.,  the  foundation  of  a  convent  in 
Buffalo.  In  October,  1847,  a  new  church,  one  hundred 
and  eighty  by  eighty  feet,  was  begun.  On  April  pth  of 
the  following  year,  which  happened  to  fall  on  Easter- 
Monday,  Bishop  Timon  laid  the  corner-stone  of  St. 
Mary's  of  the  Immaculate  Conception.  On  the  last 
Sunday  of  July,  1850,  the  church  was  consecrated. 

Another  important  foundation  made  under  Father 
Neumann's  direction  was  that  of  St.  Alphonsus,  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  New  York  City.  Father  Rumpler, 
a  man  burning  with  zeal  for  souls,  had  long  felt  the 
necessity  of  providing  a  church  for  the  German  Catho- 
lics of  that  quarter.  Father  Neumann  took  a  lively 
interest  in  the  project,  and  aided  Father  Rumpler  to 
carry  out  his  plans.  On  September  18,  1847,  the  cor- 
ner-stone was  laid,  and  two  months  later,  November  25th, 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  295 

the  church  of  St.  Alphonsus  was  dedicated.  The  first 
pastor  of  the  new  congregation  was  Father  Tappert, 
whose  chief  object  was  to  provide  a  school-house  for 
the  children.  The  blessing  of  God  rested  on  the  whole 
undertaking;  for  on  the  site  of  the  old  church  has 
since  arisen  a  spacious  and  magnificent  edifice  in  the 
Romanesque  style.  The  sons  of  St.  Alphonsus  have  here 
as  elsewhere  developed  great  and  successful  results  for 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls. 

Father  Neumann  did  not  restrict  his  zeal  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  houses  of  the  Congregation  entrusted  to 
his  care  as  Provincial.  He  also  promoted  with  special 
predilection  and  personal  activity  the  great  work  of  the 
missions,  a  work  which  forms  the  principal  end  of  the 
Congregation.  Through  his  instrumentality,  Bishop 
Rappe,  of  Cleveland,  petitioned  for  missions  throughout 
all  the  parishes  of  his  diocese.  During  these  missions, 
Father  Neumann,  in  his  humility  and  modesty,  always 
chose  for  himself  the  less  conspicuous  and  more  weary- 
ing part,  such  as  early  morning  instruction  and  the 
recitation  of  the  Rosary  before  the  evening  sermon.  In 
the  confessional  he  was  indefatigable;  the  whole  day 
long,  from  dawn  till  late  at  night,  found  him  at  his 
post. 

Father  Neumann  understood  equally  well  the  great 
importance  of  retreats  for  priests  and  religious  ;  there- 
fore he  devoted  special  attention  to  such  exercises. 
From  their  priests  the  people  imbibe  faith  and  piety.  If 
the  priest  is  a  man  of  faith  and  prayer,  he  will  infuse  his 
own  spirit  into  the  souls  committed  to  his  care.  Such 
gifts  and  graces  are  communicated  to  the  clergy  in  a 
special  manner  by  means  of  retreats.  These  life-giving 
exercises  Father  Neumann  frequently  conducted  him- 
self with  equal  facility  in  German,  French,  and  Eng- 
lish. His  humble  bearing  in  presence  of  the  clergy 
and  religious  was  the  source  of  great  edification,  a 
silent  sermon  in  itself,  whilst  the  lively  faith,  the  ardent 


296  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

love  of  God,  embodied  in  his  discourses  moved  the 
hearts  of  his  hearers  and  produced  much  fruit. 

His  exertions  were  not  confined  to  works  at  a  dis- 
tance; he  took  an  active  part  in  the  ministry  among  his 
own  parishioners  of  Baltimore,  where,  as  Vice-Provincial, 
he  was  also  local  Superior.  In  1847  ne  made  such 
changes  in  the  house  adjoining  St.  Alphonsus'  Church 
as  would  render  it  suitable  for  a  convent,  and  he  gath- 
ered around  him  a  large  community  whose  members 
led  a  truly  edifying  religious  life.  The  present  beauti- 
ful Gothic  church  was  built  under  the  superintendence  of 
Father  Alexander,  and  on  March  14,  1845,  was  dedicated 
by  Archbishop  Eccleston.  It  is  a  spacious  edifice 
crowned  by  a  steeple  two  hundred  and  twenty  feet  in 
height — an  ornament  to  the  neighborhood  in  which  it 
stands. 

The  pulpit,  the  confessional,  the  schools,  the  sick — all 
were  special  objects  of  Father  Neumann's  zeal.  Austere 
toward  himself,  condescending  toward  others,  affable 
and  obliging  toward  those  with  whom  he  came  in  con- 
tact, he  won  his  way  with  all;  he  was  beloved  by  his 
own  brethren,  by  the  secular  clergy,  and  by  the  faithful 
at  large.  The  most  difficult  and  trying  duties,  and 
those  attended  by  the  least  dclat  were  his  by  right  of 
choice.  The  Sunday  explanation  of  the  Christian  Doc- 
trine, sick-calls  at  night,  catechetical  instructions  to  con- 
verts late  in  the  evening — all  such  duties  he  reserved  for 
himself.  It  was  a  touching  and  edifying  sight — the 
crowds,  young  and  old,  that  flocked  on  Sunday  after- 
noons to  hear  the  divine  truths  from  the  lips  of  him 
who  so  well  understood  how  to  speak  to  both  mind  and 
heart  in  a  clear,  practical,  apostolic  way. 

The  training  of  the  students  of  the  Congregation  was 
another  work  dear  to  Father  Neumann's  heart.  "  The 
novitiate  and  the  House  of  Studies,"  he  used  to  say,  "are 
the  seminaries  of  the  Congregation;  from  them  are  our 
missionaries  to  go  forth.  If  the  students  are  educated 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  297 

according  to  the  spirit  of  St.  Alphonsus,  the  Congre- 
gation will  continue  to  correspond  to  the  end  for  which 
it  was  established." 

The  house  attached  to  St.  James's,  Baltimore,  was  in 
course  of  time  found  too  small  for  the  purposes  origi- 
nally intended.  The  novitiate  was  therefore  transferred 
to  Pittsburg.  Father  Seelos,  a  pious  and  enlightened 
religious,  was  appointed  Novice-Master,  an  office  for 
which  he  was  eminently  qualified.  The  professed  stu- 
dents were  retained  in  Baltimore,  that,  under  Father 
Neumann's  watchful  care,  they  might  dispose  themselves 
for  their  sublime  vocation.  For  their  special  accommo- 
dation, he  erected  a  house  adjoining  St.  Alphonsus'. 

On  September  26,  1847,  Father  Neumann  wrote  to  his 
family  in  Bohemia.  We  give  his  letter  almost  entire,  as 
from  it  we  glean  some  particulars  connected  with  his 
labors  in  Baltimore.  He  writes: 

"MY    VERY    DEAR    PARENTS    AND    SlSTERS: 

"The  reason  of  my  long  silence  is  that  nothing  new 
has  occurred  either  to  brother  Wenceslaus  or  myself. 
The  former  is  now  in  Pittsburg  and  I  am  in  Baltimore. 
Our  German  parish  is  always  on  the  increase.  Before 
I  went  to  Pittsburg,  two  priests  could  more  easily 
accomplish  here  what  it  now  requires  seven  to  perform. 
We  have  charge  of  three  schools,  and  Protestants  are 
constantly  coming  for  instruction  in  our  holy  religion. 
They  generally  end  by  entering  the  Church,  after  which 
many  of  them  show  their  gratitude  to  God  by  leading 
a  Christian  life  such  as  is  seldom  witnessed  in  Europe. 
Eighty- five  adults,  one  third  of  them  negroes,  were 
last  year  received  into  the  Church. 

"  It  would  give  me  great  pleasure  to  hear  from  Pracha- 
titz  and  my  old  schoolmates.  I  occasionally  receive 
books  and  money  from  the  Society  of  St.  Leopold,  but 
who  the  benefactors  are  I  do  not  know.  Since  brother 
Wenceslaus'  arrival  I  have  no  news  from  home. 

"As  we  now  have  a  house  and  church  in  New  Orleans, 


298  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Louisiana,  I  have  begun  to  study  Spanish.  At  thirty- 
six  I  have  again  become  a  child  and  am  learning  gram- 
mar. But  this  is  of  little  importance." 

This  letter  rouses  our  admiration  of  the  writer's  deep 
humility.  Not  one  word  in  reference  to  the  responsible 
post  he  then  occupied  as  Vice-Provincial. 

The  schools  again  came  in  for  a  large  share  of  Father 
Neumann's  attention.  For  four  months,  from  July  to 
November,  he  was  busy  with  the  building  of  a  new 
school-house  opposite  the  Redemptorist  convent,  Balti- 
more. It  was  known  later  as  St.  Alphonsus'  Hall,  and 
was  in  1873  totally  destroyed  by  fire. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  insert  here  the  testimony  of 
an  eye-witness  respecting  the  influence  Father  Neumann 
brought  to  bear  upon  the  work  so  dear  to  his  heart,  the 
mental  and  moral  training  of  the  young.  A  Sister  of 
the  Order  of  Notre  Dame  speaks  as  follows  of  this 
period: 

"When  Father  Neumann  was  Superior  of  St.  Alphon- 
sus' in  Baltimore,  I  had  charge  of  the  girls'  school; 
consequently  I  had  ample  opportunity  to  admire  his 
virtues  and  eminent  qualities.  He  was  an  accomplished 
catechist  and  a  great  lover  of  children.  His  gentleness, 
meekness,  and  perseverance  in  communicating  religious 
instruction  to  the  children  often  awoke  my  astonish- 
ment, and  the  salutary  impression  he  made  upon  even 
the  most  faulty  and  troublesome  of  our  little  people  was 
quite  remarkable.  The  young  delinquents  would  freely 
avow  to  him  their  faults,  their  deviations  from  the  truth, 
their  petty  thefts,  etc.  His  mere  glance  seemed  to  con- 
tain in  it  something  of  the  all-seeing  attribute  of  God, 
so  did  it  penetrate  their  souls.  They  often  said  to  me, 
'  Sister,  Father  Neumann  looked  right  into  my  heart.' 

"I  had  the  bad  habit,"  the  same  Sister  continues,  "of 
speaking  in  a  high  tone  and  of  losing  patience  whilst 
teaching;  but  after  Father  Neumann  had  surprised  me 
in  this  fault  once  or  twice,  I  learned  how  to  correct.  He 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  299 

used  to  enter  the  school-room  so  quietly,  so  modestly, 
that  sometimes  I  did  not  perceive  him  until  greeted 
with  the  words,  'Sister,  I  thought  I  heard  you  screaming 
just  now,'  and  then  he  would  fix  his  large,  expressive 
eyes  upon  me  so  earnestly  that  there  was  no  mistaking 
his  meaning." 

Wherever  the  honor  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  souls 
could  be  promoted,  Father  Neumann  was  ready  for  any 
sacrifice.  A  new  field  for  his  zeal  was  soon  opened 
before  him.  The  Sisters  of  Providence  (colored)  occu- 
pied at  this  period  a  convent  on  North  Park  Street. 
They  exercised  the  same  vocation  then  as  they  do  now 
in  their  new  and  more  commodious  convent,  viz.,  the 
care  of  an  orphan  asylum  and  a  boarding-school  for 
colored  children.  The  worthy  Sisters  accomplished 
much  good,  but  from  lack  of  funds,  and  still  more  on 
account  of  the  want  of  spiritual  assistance,  the  com- 
munity was  in  danger  of  being  dissolved.  God  raised 
up  for  them  a  true  friend  in  the  person  of  Father  Neu- 
mann, who  in  all  things  connected  with  them  manifested 
a  lively  interest.  In  1847  he  took  ?harge  of  them,  held 
divine  service  in  their  chapel  for  the  benefit  of  the 
colored  people,  instructed  the  orphans,  and  rendered 
every  assistance  in  his  power.  Under  his  wise  and  holy 
direction  their  institution  prospered,  the  number  of 
religious  increased  from  three  to  sixteen,  and  their 
pupils  from  fifteen  to  one  hundred  and  thirteen.  When, 
later  on,  his  zeal  was  directed  to  the  establishment  of 
other  similar  institutions,  he  transferred  the  care  of  this 
community  to  Father  Anwander,  C.SS.R.,  who  earnestly 
contributed  to  the  maintenance  of  its  prosperity. 

As  confessor  of  the  Carmelite  Nuns,  Baltimore,  Father 
Neumann  led  these  daughters  of  St.  Teresa  onward  in 
the  patli  of  perfection.  The  survivors  among  those  that 
had  the  happiness  to  share  his  wise  direction  speak  of 
him  in  the  following  terms:  "  Rev.  Father  Neumann 
contributed  largely  to  the  perfection  of  our  Sisters. 


300  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

His  exhortations  and  instructions  were  animated  by  his 
own  enthusiasm  for  the  honor  of  God,  the  sublime  end 
of  the  religious  state.  They  inflamed  our  heart  with 
an  ardent  desire  for  religious  perfection,  for  a  total 
oblation  to  God." 

The  year  1847  afforded  Father  Neumann  an  oppor- 
tunity for  calling  into  existence  another  great  work,  one 
whose  wide-spread  and  lasting  influence  has  done  much 
in  behalf  of  Christian  education  in  America.  In  August 
of  this  year  there  arrived  in  Baltimore  from  Munich, 
Bavaria,  five  School-Sisters  of  Notre  Dame,  who  came 
to  seek  in  the  United  States  a  new  field  for  their  labors. 
Rev.  Mother  Teresa,  Superioress-General  of  the  Sisters, 
headed  the  little  band.  She  wished  to  see  for  herself 
whether  America  could  supply  the  kind  of  work  suit- 
able to  the  vocation  of  her  religious.  The  coming  of 
these  Sisters  was  wholly  unexpected,  and  therefore  no 
preparations  had  been  made  for  their  reception.  But 
Father  Neumann  actively  bestirred  himself  in  their 
behalf,  gave  them  advice,  and  furnished  them  with 
whatever  they  needed.  He  procured  hospitality  for 
them  in  the  different  convents  of  the  city  until  they 
could  obtain  employment  in  some  school.  For  this 
they  had  not  long  to  wait,  as  he  entrusted  to  them  the 
schools  attached  to  St.  James's  Church,  giving  them 
for  their  convent  the  commodious  dwelling  adjoining 
the  same.  A  short  time  after,  St.  Alphonsus'  school  also 
was  transferred  to  their  management.  Father  Neumann 
did  not,  however,  content  himself  with  appointing  them 
to  the  charge  of  the  three  female  schools  under  his  own 
jurisdiction  in  Baltimore;  he  recommended  them  like- 
wise to  the  Bishops  of  various  dioceses  as  exemplary 
religious  and  excellent  teachers. 

In  the  fall  of  1848  Rev.  Mother  Teresa  was  to  return 
to  Munich;  but  before  taking  leave  of  the  United  States 
she  deemed  it  expedient  to  visit  some  of  the  more  im- 
portant cities,  that  she  might  be  able  to  decide  which 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  301 

would  be  most  suitable  for  foundations  of  her  Congrega- 
tion. Sister  Mary  Caroline  accompanied  her  as  compan- 
ion, and  Father  Neumann  resolved  to  make  one  of  the 
party  himself  on  their  long  and  wearisome  trip.  Sister 
Caroline,  now  Mother  Caroline,  is  at  present  Superioress 
of  the  Sisters  of  Notre  Dame  in  America.  During  her 
tour  through  the  States  she  had  many  opportunities  for 
observing  the  virtues  of  her  reverend  guide  and  patron — 
opportunities  that  she  failed  not  to  improve,  and  that 
afforded  her  room  to  admire  his  saintly  qualities.  We 
shall  record  a  few  of  the  edifying  incidents  she  relates 
in  connection  with  that  journey.  She  says: 

"We  visited  Pittsburg,  Cleveland,  Milwaukee,  New 
York,  and*  Philadelphia.  We  travelled  by  land  and  by 
water,  by  steamboat  and  stage-coach,  Father  Neumann 
perseveringly  embracing  every  opportunity  to  give  me 
lessons  in  English. 

"  He  was  one  of  the  most  patient  of  men,  contented 
with  anything  and  everything.  I  often  saw  him  buy 
some  biscuits  for  a  few  cents  and  make  them  serve  for  a 
meal.  He  would  sit  apart  quietly  eating  them.  I  also 
noticed  that,  even  during  the  greatest  heat  of  the  day, 
he  never  took  a  glass  of  water. 

"On  one  occasion  a  rude  fellow  who  was  on  the  same 
boat  with  us  called  the  Father  an  'accursed  priest;' 
but  the  only  answer  he  received  was  a  friendly  glance 
and  gentle  smile.  The  man  slunk  away,  apparently 
ashamed  of  his  rudeness. 

"  Our  progress  on  one  of  the  steamboats  was  retarded 
by  low  water.  Father  Neumann  was  sitting  on  deck, 
and,  being  overcome  by  weariness,  he  fell  asleep.  Some 
mischievous  boys  were  near,  and  they  no  sooner  beheld 
the  reverend  gentleman  dozing  than  they  began  to  play 
pranks  upon  him.  With  a  piece  of  chalk  they  covered 
his  back  with  little  crosses.  I  saw  what  the  young 
scamps  had  done,  and  when  the  Father  awoke  I  offered 
to  brush  them  off.  But,  not  in  the  least  disturbed  by  the 


302  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

trick  played  upon  him,  he  quietly  replied,  '  Oh,  it  is  not 
necessary;  they  will  rub  off  of  themselves.' 

"This  man  of  God  was,  in  truth,  the  instrument  of 
Divine  Providence  in  spreading  and  firmly  establishing 
the  Congregation  of  the  School-Sisters  in  the  United 
States.  We  may  justly  regard  him  as  our  founder  in 
America.  We  were,  besides,  so  happy  as  to  have  him  for 
five  years  as  our  confessor  and  spiritual  adviser.  We 
had  ample  time  and  opportunity  for  discovering  his 
learning,  his  kind-heartedness,  and  his  sanctity.  He 
was  our  spiritual  director  till  his  elevation  to  the  episco- 
pate. Between  the  years  1847  and  '52  he  must  have 
trodden  the  road  from  St.  Alphonsus'  to  St.  James's  at 
least  a  thousand  times  to  hear  our  confessions  and  to 
give  us  conferences,  retreats,  etc.  Like  Bishop  Wittman, 
he  understood  the  art  of  fostering  in  others  that  true 
religious  spirit  which  had  become  a  second  nature  to 
himself.  His  zeal  for  souls  was  simply  indefatigable. 
He  showed  the  deepest  interest  in  our  ceremonies,  par- 
ticularly those  of  reception  to  the  habit  and  the  profes- 
sion of  vows.  We  were  extremely  happy  under  his  wise 
and  paternal  direction.  We  have  indeed  every  reason 
to  revere  him  as  our  founder  in  America." 

Up  to  the  present  we  have  closely  observed  and  no 
less  ardently  admired  Father  Neumann's  unrelenting 
zeal  in  the  practice  of  those  virtues  that  go  to  make  up 
the  perfect  religious.  But  if  we  contemplate  his  life 
with  a  view  of  discovering  what  virtue  most  distin- 
guished him,  we  shall  find  it  difficult  to  decide.  He  had 
formed  the  resolution,  and  he  kept  it  inviolably,  of  sedu- 
lously imitating  the  virtues  of  his  holy  founder,  St.  Al- 
phonsus, especially  his  unremitting  ardor  for  the  glory 
of  God,  his  spirit  of  prayer,  his  humility,  meekness,  self- 
denial,  and  disinterestedness.  Of  all  these  virtues,  any 
single  one  of  which  practised  for  the  love  of  God  would 
form  a  saint,  it  seems  to  us  that  Father  Neumann  ex- 
celled in  the  most  difficult — humility.  This  virtue  was  in 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  303 

him  truly  unfeigned.  Occasionally  it  gave  rise  to  amus- 
ing incidents.  One  morning,  at  an  unusually  early  hour, 
he  arrived  in  New  York  and  sought  admittance  at  the 
Redemptorist  convent.  The  porter,  a  postulant  lately 
come  to  the  house,  answered  the  bell.  When  he  saw 
a  little  man  in  the  garb  of  a  priest,  and  rather  shabby 
withal,  standing  at  the  door,  his  first  thought  was,  "  This 
must  be  the  sacristan  from  Bloomingdale.  He  has  come 
early  to  borrow  our  dalmatics."  Then  addressing  the 
stranger,  he  said,  "Well,  what  do  you  want?" 

"  I  should  like  to  see  the  Superior,  Father  Rumpler. 
Is  he  at  home?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  Brother.     "  He  is  at  home." 

"What  is  your  name,  Brother?"  asked  the  stranger 
with  a  smile. 

"  I  am  Brother  N ,"  answered  the  postulant,  as  he 

turned  into  the  house  to  call  the  Superior.  Father  Neu- 
mann made  a  move  as  if  to  follow  him,  when  the  Brother 
stopped  short,  exclaiming,  "  Stay  here,  if  you  please. 
Take  a  seat  on  that  bench,  whilst  I  go  call  the  Superior." 
And  as  he  went  he  muttered  to  himself  quite  loud  enough 
for  the  stranger's  ears,  "This  sacristan  is  inquisitive. 
He  asks  my  name,  and  even  wants  to  enter  the  cloister." 

Father  Neumann  smiled,  and  seated  himself  where  he 
had  been  directed.  After  the  lapse  of  a  few  minutes, 
Brother  N again  appeared,  this  time  with  the  in- 
quiry, 

"  Who  are  you  ?     What  is  your  name  ?" 

"I  am  Father  Neumann,"  was  the  gentle  answer. 

"Father  Neumann!"  repeated  the  astonished  porter. 
"  Oh,  if  you  are  one  of  the  Fathers,  pray  come  in." 

Father  Neumann  entered  and  followed  Brother  N 

to  the  Superior's  room,  where,  to  his  amazement,  he  be- 
held Father  Rumpler  fall  on  his  knees  before  the  stranger 
and  ask  a  blessing. 

The  poor  Brother  was  quite  bewildered.  Ashamed  of 
the  reception  he  had  given  the  Father  Provincial  and  a 


304  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

little  in  dread  of  the  result  to  himself,  he  avoided  meet- 
ing him.  But  Father  Neumann  sent  for  him,  spoke  to 
him  kindly,  and  set  him  entirely  at  his  ease  by  telling 
him  that  he  had  faithfully  performed  his  duty  as  porter. 
"However,"  added  he  with  a  significant  smile,  "do  not 
get  into  the  habit  of  thinking  aloud." 

Father  Neumann  sought  occasions  of  humbling  him- 
self and  of  being  humbled  as  eagerly  as  others  try  to 
shun  them.  It  is  customary  for  Superiors  in  Redemp- 
torist  communities  to  kiss  the  feet  of  their  brethren  on 
Thursdays  and  publicly  accuse  themselves  of  their  faults. 
Such  acts  of  self-abasement  were  dear  to  the  heart  of 
our  humble  Father,  who  performed  them  with  so  great 
fervor  and  holy  joy  as  to  leave  their  impress  on  his  coun- 
tenance. Kind-hearted  and  gentle  in  his  intercourse 
with  his  brethren,  as  we  have  before  remarked,  he  knew 
how  to  detect  and  to  banish  their  temptations  in  a  man- 
ner peculiar  to  himself.  No  one  ever  addressed  himself 
to  him  under  the  pressure  of  interior  trial  without  find- 
ing consolation,  instruction,  and  support. 

A  venerable  old  Father  relates  that  in  1847  ne  asked 
Father  Neumann's  permission  to  make  a  pilgrimage  to 
Jerusalem.  To  lend  weight  to  the  arguments  he  brought 
forward  in  support  of  his  cause,  he  quoted  a  passage 
from  the  writings  of  St.  Alphonsus,  and  related  the 
following  example  from  the  Middle  Ages:  "Once  upon 
a  time  there  lived  in  France  a  good  old  monk  who  con- 
ceived a  desire  similar  to  that  which  now  urged  him,  viz., 
to  make  a  pilgrimage  to  the  Holy  Places.  He  made 
known  his  wishes  to  his  Abbot,  who  not  only  accorded 
him  permission  to  do  so,  but  even  supplied  him  with 
money  for  the  journey — forty  bright  gold  pieces.  More- 
over, to  show  their  appreciation  of  their  confrere's 
undertaking,  several  of  his  brethren  accompanied  him 
barefoot  for  some  days,  singing  psalms  and  reciting 
prayers  as  they  went."  But  as  in  our  own  days  this  style 
of  making  pilgrimages  is  no  longer  feasible,  the  Father 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  305 

declared  that  he  would  content  himself  with  the  permis- 
sion of  his  Superior,  dispensing  with  the  accompanying 
features — the  barefooted  monks,  the  psalms,  and  the 
prayers.  Father  Neumann  listened  quietly  to  the  pro- 
jected journey,  praised  the  good  old  Father's  fervor  and 
piety  which  suggested  a  visit  to  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  and 
expressed  his  interest  in  the  story  of  the  old  French 
monk.  He  ended,  however,  by  advising  the  Father  to 
pray  for  some  time  that  God  would  make  known  to  him 
whether  his  desire  proceeded  from  Him  or  was  a  delu- 
sion of  the  evil  one.  And  so  the  pilgrimage  ended. 
Far  from  taxing  the  good  old  Father  with  imprudence 
or  extravagance,  Father  Neumann  thus  kindly  and  con- 
siderately dissipated  what  he  knew  to  be  merely  an  idle 
temptation. 

In  important  affairs  Father  Neumann  ever  refrained 
from  a  decision  founded  merely  upon  his  own  opinions 
and  sentiments.  Though  a  man  of  vast  erudition  and 
great  experience,  he  constantly  mistrusted  his  own 
strength,  and  in  every  question  submitted  to  him  he  be- 
took himself  to  prayer.  Following  in  the  footsteps  of 
the  wise  and  spiritual  men  that  had  gone  before  him,  he 
sought  the  advice  of  the  Consultors  assigned  him  by  his 
rule.  Then  whatever  resolution  had,  after  mature 
deliberation,  been  adopted,  he  carried  out  in  his  own 
quiet  though  resolute  manner. 

Above  all  things  else  he  had  at  heart  the  preservation 
and  increase  of  the  religious  spirit;  for  his  principle  of 
action  was  this,  that  whatever  labors  were  undertaken 
in  behalf  of  souls,  must,  to  be  pleasing  to  God  and 
conducive  to  the  end  in  view,  spring  from  a  pure  inten- 
tion and  a  true  love  of  His  Divine  Majesty.  Therefore 
he  insisted  on  self-sanctification  as  the  first  requisite 
in  the  sublime  work  of  the  ministry,  and  required  of  all 
under  his  charge  the  acquisition  of  holiness  chiefly  by 
the  exact  observance  of  rule.  This  he  could  all  the 
more  lawfully  exact  as  he  himself  was  a  model  of  every 


306  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

virtue,  a  living  exemplification  of  every  rule,  of  every 
custom,  of  the  Congregation.  As  Vice-Provincial  no 
more  than  as  a  simple  subject  would  he  allow  the  least 
exception  in  his  own  favor.  His  superiority  entitled 
him  to  no  privileges  excepting  that  of  choosing  whatever 
was  most  difficult  and  unpleasant  for  himself. 

Defects  which  could  not  at  once  be  remedied  con- 
tributed not  a  little  to  increase  the  care  and  anxiety  of 
so  conscientious  a  Superior  as  was  Father  Neumann. 
In  his  solicitude  for  exact  observance  he  undertook  the 
translation  of  the  rule  from  the  Italian,  and  he  employed 
every  means  in  his  power,  mildness  and  earnestness, 
kindness  and  firmness,  to  restore  regular  discipline 
wherever  it  had  suffered.  We  find  this  translation 
among  his  manuscripts.  It  is  a  leather-back  book, 
pocket  size,  copied  out  most  carefully  in  his  own  hand- 
writing. Its  appearance  indicates  its  having  been  earned 
about  with  him,  and  the  ornamentation  of  the  title- 
page  bespeaks  the  childlike  love  and  reverence  he  enter- 
tained for  its  contents.  In  another  book  of  the  same 
kind  he  copied  all  the  prayers  and  acts  of  devo- 
tion usually  recited  by  the  members  of  the  Congre- 
gation. 

Nor  was  less  zeal  displayed  by  Father  Neumann  in 
the  annual  visitation  of  the  houses  under  his  charge. 
He  entered  into  the  minutest  details  on  such  occasions, 
and  used  every  means  to  supply  whatever  deficiencies 
might  be  at  the  time  existing.  In  one  house  he  found  a 
want  for  which  he  at  once  provided,  viz.,  the  tablet  on 
which,  as  the  rule  prescribes,  are  recorded  the  annual 
patrons,  with  the  virtues  and  prayers  assigned  by  lot  to 
every  member  of  the  Congregation.  Nothing  escaped 
his  vigilance:  the  least  shared  with  the  greatest  his 
serious  attention.  In  word  and  in  writing  he  exhorted 
Superiors  to  procure,  as  far  as  possible,  books  the  most 
suitable  for  the  promotion  of  science  and  the  advance- 
ment of  the  spirit  of  the  Congregation,  and  many  a 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  307 

donation  of  this  kind  he  himself  made  to  houses  of 
limited  means. 

In  perusing  the  lives  of  the  greatest  servants  of  God 
we  are  often  impressed  by  the  extraordinary  sufferings 
and  persecutions  endured  by  them,  sometimes  even  at 
the  hands  of  their  nearest  friends,  sometimes  from 
those  bound  to  them  by  special  ties  of  love  and  grati- 
tude. St.  Alphonsus,  as  we  know,  was  no  exception  to 
this  almost  general  rule;  and  do  we  not  hear  the  Apostle 
to  the  Gentiles  enumerating  among  his  trials  those  he 
was  called  upon  to  endure  from  "false  brethren"?  Al- 
mighty God  permits  His  chosen  ones  to  suffer  in  this 
way  that  they  may  heap  up  treasures  of  merit,  may  seek 
for  nothing  outside  of  Himself.  Through  this  ordeal,  so 
bitter,  so  galling,  to  a  soul  sensitive  as  his,  Father 
Neumann  had  to  pass.  But  like  unto  the  palm-tree, 
which  raises  its  stately  head  in  bolder  grandeur  "the 
more  the  winds  beat  and  the  more  the  rains  fall,"  his 
beautiful  soul  grew  nobler,  stronger;  his  virtue  was  per- 
fected in  the  fiery  furnace  of  tribulation. 

The  time  drew  near  for  Father  Neumann  to  be  relieved 
of  the  burden  of  the  Vice-Provincialship;  but  it  came 
not  quickly  enough  to  satisfy  the  craving  of  his  soul 
after  the  humble  station  of  an  inferior. 

On  January  9,  1849,  Father  Bernard  Hafkenscheid 
arrived  from  Europe  in  quality  of  Vice-Provincial,  the 
Consultors  appointed  him  being  Father  Neumann  and 
Father  Rumpler.  We  shall  not  follow  Father  Bernard 
in  the  discharge  of  his  new  office.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that 
he  governed  with  a  firm  and  secure  hand  the  convents 
which  he  received  in  a  flourishing  condition  from  his 
predecessor. 

Relieved  from  the  responsibilities  of  office,  Father 
Neumann  once  more  breathed  freely.  His  cell  was  his 
favorite  resort,  the  practice  of  obedience  his  joy,  and  to 
be  able  to  devote  himself  unreservedly  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry  his  highest  aim  in  life. 


308  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

On  August  28,  1850,  Father  Bernard  sailed  for  Europe 
to  be  present  at  a  meeting  of  the  Superiors  of  the  Con- 
gregation, leaving  Father  Neumann  to  hold  his  place 
during  his  absence — a  period  of  six  months.  By  this 
mark  of  confidence  Father  Bernard  clearly  manifested 
his  own  private  opinion  of  Father  Neumann.  He  re- 
garded the  complaints  made  of  the  ex-Vice-Provincial  as 
wholly  unfounded,  and  by  this  public  act  he  vindicated 
his  saintly  predecessor.  In  a  letter  to  New  Orleans, 
dated  January  10,  1851,  Father  Neumann  makes  these 
remarks:  "  God  be  praised  we  have  more  work  than  we 
can  do!  Numerous  missions  are  called  for;  we  are  put- 
ting forth  every  effort  to  meet  them  all.  New  Orleans 

will  soon  be  attended  to.  Father  C is  very  anxious 

to  take  part  in  that  mission,  and  so  too  is  your  humble 
servant." 

In  the  government  of  the  Congregation  a  great  change 
had  taken  place.  Rev.  Father  Passerat  was  succeeded, 
July  i,  1850,  by  Father  Smetena  as  Vicar-General.  The 
Congregation  in  America  was  definitively  raised  to  a 
province,  and  the  houses  of  St.  Alphonsus  in  Baltimore, 
of  St.  Philomena  in  Pittsburg,  and  of  the  Most  Holy 
Redeemer  in  New  York,  were  made  Rectorates.  Father 
Bernard  returned,  March  20,  1851,  as  the  first  Provincial 
of  the  Redemptorists  in  America. 

Father  Neumann  received  his  appointment  as  first 
Rector  of  St.  Alphonsus,  Baltimore,  discharging  at  the 
same  time  the  office  of  Consultor  to  the  Provincial.  As 
Rector,  he  chose  for  himself  the  smallest  cell  in  the 
house — a  room  unpleasantly  located  near  to  the  entrance. 
This  he  did  to  be  at  hand  for  any  disagreeable  or  diffi- 
cult duty  that  might  present  itself;  for,  esteeming  him- 
self the  servant  of  all,  he  held  himself  in  readiness  for 
every  emergency.  His  love  for  his  brethren  was  truly 
paternal;  his  solicitude  was  akin  to  that  of  a  tender 
mother  for  her  child.  Did  a  Father  fail  to  return  home 
at  the  appointed  hour,  Father  Neumann  was  all  anxiety 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  309 

on  his  account.  He  would  refuse  to  retire  on  such  occa- 
sions, so  great  was  his  fear  for  the  safety  of  the  absent 
one.  A  certain  Father  relates  that  once  only  did  he 
receive  a  severe  reprimand,  and  that  was  from  the  gentle 
Father  Neumann.  He,  the  Father  that  tells  this  inci- 
dent of  himself,  had  been  on  duty  at  one  of  the  neigh- 
boring stations,  from  which  he  returned  toward  midnight. 
"  Father  Rector,"  he  says,  "  met  me  at  the  door,  whither 
he  had  repeatedly  gone  during  the  evening  to  make 
inquiries  of  the  Brother-Porter  concerning  me." 

In  the  spring  and  fall  he  used  to  examine  the  clothing 
of  the  community  himself,  in  order  to  supply  promptly 
whatever  might  be  needed.  It  was  with  a  true  father's 
joy  that  he  sought  to  surprise  his  subjects  by  causing  to 
be  laid  in  their  cells  some  new  article  of  clothing  instead 
of  the  well-worn  garment  accustomed  to  be  found  there. 
He  insisted  earnestly  upon  the  strict  observance  of  pov- 
erty; for  instance,  carelessly  to  allow  crumbs  to  fall  on 
the  floor,  to  cut  bread  on  the  table-cloth  thereby  endan- 
gering the  latter,  he  designated  as  faults  against  this 
holy  vow. 

He  sought  both  by  word  and  example  to  maintain  the 
community-life  among  his  subjects,  whilst  at  the  same 
time  he  was  watchful  to  make  things  as  pleasant  as  pos- 
sible to  them.  In  his  weekly  conferences  he  often  re- 
peated the  words,  "  Fraternal  charity  and  love  for  the 
Congregation  must  be  the  bonds  by  which  its  members 
will  be  united  into  one  blessed  family."  In  this,  as  in  all 
other  things,  his  own  manner  of  acting  afforded  an  ex- 
ample for  imitation.  Always  cheerful  in  recreation,  he 
entertained  his  companions  with  useful  and  interesting 
conversation.  He  spoke  in  rather  a  low  tone,  and 
nothing  in  his  manner  could  in  the  least  betray  a  con- 
sciousness of  superior  knowledge  or  mark  him  out  as 
holding  the  first  place  among  his  brethren.  His  inter- 
course with  the  learned  and  the  unlearned  was  therefore 
most  pleasing  and  enlivening.  Sometimes  he  would 


3io  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

sing    a   hymn    softly,    accompanying    himself    on    the 
piano. 

If  in  scientific  discussions  the  Fathers  happened  to 
differ  in  opinion, — and  indeed  this  was  often  the  case, — 
Father  Neumann  would  keep  silence  until  each  had 
delivered  his  opinion  freely.  Then,  taking  up  the  thread 
of  discourse,  he  would  consider  the  question  in  its  every 
bearing  and  draw  conclusions  satisfactory  to  all.  His 
judgment  was  received  as  trustworthy,  and  in  difficult 
cases  his  opinions  were  held  as  conclusive.  His  mild- 
ness, his  gentle  considerateness,  exhibited  in  such  dis- 
putes were  really  admirable;  his  conversation  and  writ- 
ings breathed  naught  but  benevolence.  In  1851  he 
wrote  several  letters  to  his  relatives  in  Bohemia,  which 
are  all  expressive  of  his  characteristic  gentleness.  For 
some  years  he  had  received  no  letters  from  his  family. 
Now  he  begs  them  in  the  most  affectionate  terms  to 
write  to  him,  whilst  he  thanks  for  the  letters  last  received. 
We  subjoin  a  few  passages: 

"  MY  BELOVED  FATHER  AND  VERY  DEAR  SISTERS: 

"Brother  Wenceslaus  and  I  had  given  up  all  hope  of 
ever  hearing  again  from  our  dear  home,  when  we  were 
most  unexpectedly  rejoiced  by  the  arrival  of  a  letter  from 
our  dear  cousin,  George  Zahn,  and  another,  a  short  time 
ago,  from  sister  Caroline.  We  had  been  long  anxiously 
desiring  to  hear  from  home.  I  cannot  conceive  how 
your  letters  could  have  gone  astray.  It  would  be  a  great 
consolation  to  us  to  know  the  date  of  dear  mother's 
death,  also  that  of  our  sister  Veronica  and  all  our  other 
friends  and  relatives  lately  deceased,  that  we  may  be 
able  to  celebrate  their  anniversaries. 

"We  thank  the  Lord  our  God  for  having  called  us 
to  this  holy  Congregation  of  St.  Alphonsus.  With  the 
exception  of  some  slight  indisposition,  my  health  has 
been  excellent;  and  notwithstanding  my  constant  jour- 
neying by  sea  and  by  land,  in  steam-cars  and  on  horse- 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  311 

back,  I  have  never  met  with  an  accident.  This  special 
mark  of  God's  protection  I  ascribe  chiefly  to  your 
prayers.  Although  no  day  passes  withou't  my  longing 
to  be  among  my  dear  relatives  and  friends,  yet  I  never 
regret  having  devoted  myself  to  the  missionary  work 
here.  I  recognize  it  as  my  vocation  to  labor  for  the 
honor  of  God  among  our  poor  Germans  of  North 
America.  The  labors  of  all  my  brethren  are  visibly 
blessed  by  Almighty  God,  and  I  confidently  hope  and 
trust  that  God  will  keep  us,  each  and  all,  in  His  holy 
grace,  and  give  us  after  death  the  reward  promised  to 
those  that  have  left  earthly  things  to  follow  Him.  In 
this  reward  our  dear  parents  will  participate,  since  they 
made  the  sacrifice  of  allowing  us  to  leave  them.  That  I 
should  leave  you  was,  without  doubt,  the  will  of  God.  I 
trust  He  will  unite  us  all  in  heaven,  where  there  will  be 
no  separation." 

In  December,   1851,  he  again  wrote  to  his  father: 

"  The  two  churches  of  which  we  now  have  charge  in 
Baltimore  are  crowded  every  Sunday,  especially  at  High 
Mass.  In  about  six  weeks  the  third  church  for  the 
Germans  will  be  finished,  and  it,  too,  will  be  filled  on 
Sundays.  That  God  has  protected  us  in  every  danger 
and  blessed  all  our  labors,  we  must  no  doubt  ascribe  to 
your  prayers  and  those  of  all  the  friends  of  the  missions. 
The  world  is  converted  more  by  fervent  and  con- 
tinued prayer  than  by  any  other  means.  We  beg  you, 
therefore,  and  all  our  friends  and  relatives  in  Prachatitz 
and  its  neighborhood,  to  offer  fervent  petitions  to  the 
Lord,  along  with  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  that  He 
may  continue  to  bless  our  labors." 

The  inward  peace  and  happiness  that  Father  Neumann 
tasted  in  his  vocation  may  be  detected  in  the  following 
words  addressed  by  him  one  evening  in  recreation  to  a 
good  lay-brother: 

"  Oh  what  a  blessing  it  is  to  live  in  the  Congregation, 
especially  here  in  America!  Here  we  can  really  love 


312  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

God.  We  can  labor  much  for  Him,  and  all  so  quietly, 
quite  unnoticed  by  the  world." 

In  the  fall  of  1851,  about  six  months  previously  to 
Father  Neumann's  elevation  to  the  episcopacy,  Brother 
Athanasius,  a  very  pious  and  edifying  lay-brother  living 
in  the  Redemptorist  convent  of  Pittsburg,  asserted  that 
he  had  had  a  vision  in  which  he  saw  Father  Neumann 
habited  in  the  episcopal  robes  and  environed  with 
splendor.  Father  Seelos,  Brother  Athanasius'  Superior, 
and  himself  a  disciple  of  Father  Neumann,  writing  to 
the  latter  about  the  same  time,  mentioned  it  casually, 
with  a  few  pleasant  words  on  the  same.  Father  Neu- 
mann's humility  took  fright  at  the  mere  thought  of  such 
a  thing  coupled  with  his  name.  In  his  answer  to  Father 
Seelos'  letter  he  says,  "  Tell  that  good  Brother  that,  if 
he  is  not  already  crazed,  to  pray  that  he  may  not  become 
so."  Severe  words  from  the  gentle  Father  Neumann! 
The  event,  however,  soon  proved  the  good  Brother's 
sanity. 

During  Father  Neumann's  rectorship  at  St.  Alphonsus', 
Baltimore,  Archbishop  Kenrick  was  in  the  habit  of  pay- 
ing a  weekly  visit  to  the  convent.  With  that  heavenly 
intuition  which  springs  from  nearness  to  God,  the  holy 
Archbishop  had  not  failed  to  recognize  in-  the  humble 
Redemptorist  a  soul  bearing  the  same  genuine  stamp  as 
his  own;  he  saw  in  him  the  saint,  and  chose  him  for  his 
confessor.  In  one  of  his  visits  he  communicated  to 
Father  Neumann  a  piece  of  intelligence  that  had  come 
to  him  privately,  viz.,  that  he,  Father  Neumann,  had 
been  preconized  Bishop  of  Philadelphia.  He  added 
jokingly,  "  My  dear  Father,  you  had  better  see  about 
getting  yourself  a  mitre." 

We  can  imagine  Father  Neumann's  consternation. 
Throwing  himself  on  his  knees,  he  begged  the  Arch- 
bishop with  tears  to  have  compassion  on  him,  to  avert 
from  him  a  dignity  for  which  he  was  wholly  unsuited. 
Moved  by  his  deep  humility  and  unaffected  distress,  the 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  313 

Archbishop  promised  to  use  his  influence  to  prevent  the 
episcopal  dignity's  being  imposed  upon  him.  But  Father 
Neumann  was  only  half  reassured  by  the  Archbishop's 
promise.  He  wrote  at  once  to  Father  Queloz,  the 
Procurator-General  of  the  Congregation  in  Rome,  be- 
seeching him  to  exert  every  means  in  his  power  to  pre- 
vent the  appointment.  He  did  not  rest  here;  he  had 
recourse  to  prayer,  the  efficacy  of  which  he  had  so  often 
tested,  and  sought  to  prevail  upon  Almighty  God  to 
spare  him  so  heavy  a  trial.  Any  other  cross,  any  other 
burden,  seemed  preferable  to  the  one  impending  over 
him.  He  begged  the  Divine  Spirit  to  enlighten  those 
who  had  been  guilty  of  so  grave  an  error  as  to  fix  their 
eyes  upon  his  lowliness  in  connection  with  so  exalted  an 
office.  He  appealed  to  all  the  holy  souls  in  the  circle  of 
his  acquaintance,  and  they  were  not  few,  to  unite  their 
prayers  with  his  to  avert  so  great  a  calamity  from  the 
Church  and  from  himself.  He  had  novenas  made  in 
religious  houses  to  ward  off,  as  he  told  them,  a  great 
danger  from  one  of  the  dioceses  of  America.  The 
Fathers  of  his  own  convent  said  daily  the  seven  peni- 
tential psalms  for  the  same  end.  But  Almighty  God's 
designs  were  not  to  be  thwarted.  He  had  marked  out 
this  His  favored  servant  for  one  of  the  highest  stations 
in  the  Church,  and  the  time  had  come  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  the  Divine  Will.  The  light  of  this  humble, 
faithful  son  of  St.  Alphonsus  had  shone  for  many  years 
with  a  lustre  not  to  be  ignored  by  any  one  of  those  with 
whom  the  duties  of  his  ministry  brought  him  in  contact: 
now,  however,  this  light  was  to  acquire  new  brilliancy; 
now  it  was  to  shed  its  beams  over  a  still  wider  field  of 
action — it  was  to  be  set  upon  a  still  more  honorable 
candlestick. 

On  March  19,  1852,  the  feast  of  the  glorious  patriarch 
St.  Joseph,  Father  Neumann  after  a  short  absence  en- 
tened  his  little  cell  about  dusk.  As  he  stepped  toward 
the  small  table  at  which  he  was  accustomed  to  read  and 


314  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

write,  his  glance  discovered  something  on  it  sparkling 
and  glistening  in  the  dim  evening  light.  He  drew  near, 
and  found  lying  there  an  episcopal  ring  and  pectoral 
cross.  Perplexed,  and  not  daring  to  collect  his  thoughts, 
he  hurried  to  the  Brother-Porter  to  know  who  had  en- 
tered his  room  during  his  absence.  "Reverend  Father," 
said  the  Brother,  "  the  Archbishop  was  here,  and  went  up 
to  your  room  as  usual  to  make  his  confession."  This  was 
enough  for  poor  Father  Neumann.  The  truth  dawned 
upon  his  mind;  he  understood  only  too  well  the  meaning 
of  the  episcopal  insignia  laid  upon  his  table.  Without  a 
word  he  hastened  with  a  faltering  step  back  to  his  room, 
locked  the  door,  and  threw  himself  on  his  knees.  Morn- 
ing came  and  found  him  still  kneeling  in  the  same  spot 
where,  in  the  agony  of  his  soul,  he  had  wrestled  with 
God  through  the  long  hours  of  night.  He  had  prayed, 
and  he  was  heard — but  not  according  to  his  desires.  He 
had  prayed,  and  Almighty  God,  in  conformity  with  His 
own  eternal  designs,  granted  him  the  strength  to  carry 
the  burden  it  was  His  gracious  pleasure  to  lay  upon  him 
— to  carry  it  nobly  and  generously  for  the  honor  of  that 
same  good  God,  for  his  own  sanctification,  and  for  the 
salvation  of  many  souls. 

Next  morning  the  Archbishop  presented  Father  Neu- 
mann the  Bulls  of  his  appointment,  together  with  the 
formal  command  of  the  Holy  Father  enjoining  his  accep- 
tance of  the  see  of  Philadelphia. 

Father  Neumann  was  a  true  son  of  St.  Alphonsus;  a 
Redemptorist  heart  and  soul,  his  only  desire  was  to  live 
and  die  a  Redemptorist.  Honors  and  dignities,  be  they 
even  ecclesiastical,  were  thoroughly  distasteful  to  him. 
We  have  not  followed  him  thus  far  in  his  saintly  career 
without  arriving  at  such  a  conviction;  but  Rome  had 
spoken.  There  was  now  nothing  left  to  her  obedient 
son  but  to  recognize  in  the  command  of  the  Holy  Father 
the  declared  will  of  God,  and  to  submit  to  that  adorable 
will  at  any  cost. 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  315 

In  compliance  with  Father  Neumann's  urgent  and  reit- 
erated requests,  every  effort  had  been  made  in  Rome  to 
procure  his  escape  from  the  dreaded  dignity,  but  all  in 
vain.  Father  Queloz,  the  Procurator-General  of  the 
Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer,  wrote  to  the 
Provincial  at  Vienna  as  follows: 

"The  news  of  Father  Neumann's  nomination  to  a 
Bishopric  will  doubtless  cause  you  pain.  All  our  efforts 
were  fruitless.  His  Eminence  Cardinal  Altieri,  with  the 
papers  in  his  hands,  defended  our  cause  before  the  Con- 
gregation of  the  Propaganda.  He  had  four  of  the 
Cardinals  on  his  side,  but  the  majority  voted  for  Father 
Neumann,  whom  the  American  Bishops  had  placed  sec- 
ond on  the  list.  Monsignore  Barnabo,  Secretary  of  the 
Congregation,  communicated  to  His  Holiness  the  result 
of  the  election,  and  made  use  of  the  occasion  to  say  a 
word  in  our  behalf.  But  Pius  IX.  replied,  'I  bear  the 
Redemptorist  Fathers  in  my  heart.  They  have  done  in 
this  matter  what  God  willed  they  should  do.  I  am  con- 
fident that  He  will  not  refuse  me  the  light  to  discern 
what  the  good  of  the  Church  in  general  and  of  the  Con- 
gregation in  particular  demands  of  me.  Therefore  I 
sanction  the  choice  of  the  Cardinals,  and  I  command 
Father  Neumann  under  formal  obedience  (sub  obedientid 
formali]  to  accept  the  diocese  of  Philadelphia  without 
further  appeal.' " 

The  Bulls  were  expedited  on  February  i,  1852,  and 
reached  the  Archbishop  of  Baltimore  on  the  evening  of 
March  ipth.  After  an  interview  with  Father  Neumann 
the  Archbishop  fixed  upon  the  28th  of  the  same  month 
as  the  day  for  the  consecration.  This  date  was  doubly 
memorable  in  the  life  of  the  young  Bishop-elect  as  being 
the  day  of  his  birth  as  well  as  that  of  his  baptism.  On 
the  next  anniversary  he  would  complete  his  forty-first 
year.  A  remarkable  coincidence  in  these  dates,  and  one 
not  without  deep  significance,  is  the  fact  that  Good 
Friday  of  the  year  1811,  the  year  of  Father  Neumann's 


316  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

birth,  fell  upon  the  28th  of  March.  The  same  date  fell 
in  1852,  the  year  of  his  episcopal  consecration,  upon 
Passion-Sunday.  It  was,  as  we  have  remarked,  a  con- 
currence of  dates  and  feasts  that  failed  not  to  make  an 
impression  upon  him,  in  whose  life  they  stand  out  with 
noticeable  prominence.  Father  Neumann  recognized  in 
it  an  expression  of  God's  designs  over  him — trials  and 
sufferings  were  to  be  the  portion  of  the  cup  now  pre- 
sented to  his  lips.  Following  out  the  thoughts  thereby 
suggested,  he  chose  for  his  device  the  words,  "  Passio 
Christi,  conforta  me! — Passion  of  Christ,  strengthen  me!" 

The  Provincial  of  the  Congregation,  Father  Bernard, 
resolved  that  the  consecration  of  this,  one  of  its  most 
humble  and  most  worthy  sons,  should  be  attended  by 
all  due  pomp  and  solemnity.  He  took  charge  of  the 
preparations  himself,  and  directed  all  things  connected 
with  it  on  a  liberal  and  becoming  scale.  Meanwhile  he 
for  whom  all  this  stir  was  being  made  entered  upon  a 
retreat  of  eight  days,  glad  to  shut  himself  away  for  even 
that  short  period  from  the  thought  of  the  break  about 
to  be  made  in  the  loved  tenor  of  his  conventual  life. 

On  the  Sunday  preceding  the  great  solemnity,  Father 
Bernard  announced  from  the  pulpit  of  St.  Alphonsus' 
that  one  week  from  that  day,  Passion-Sunday,  the 
Rector,  Father  Neumann,  would  be  consecrated  in  that 
church.  He  also  recommended  the  Bishop-elect  to  the 
prayers  of  the  faithful.  "  If,"  said  he,  "you  were  at  this 
moment  to  search  for  Father  Rector  you  would  find  him 
on  his  knees  in  prayer,  begging  from  God  the  strength 
and  grace  necessary  for  the  new  and  onerous  charge 
laid  upon  him." 

Father  Bernard  addressed  the  community  in  the  same 
strain.  After  holding  Father  Neumann  up  to  them  as  a 
model  of  every  virtue,  as  a  true  Redemptorist,  he  ernpha- 
sized  the  fact  that  only  by  the  express  command  of  the 
Holy  Father  had  he  been  induced  to  accept  the  episco- 
pal dignity;  that  as  he  had  ever  been  an  obedient  son  of 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  317 

St.  Alphonsus,  he  now  humbly  submitted  to  the  Holy 
Father,  whatever  pain  such  submission  might  cost  him. 

The  news  of  Father  Neumann  the  Redemptorist's 
appointment  as  Bishop  of  Philadelphia  soon  spread 
throughout  Europe  and  America.  It  created,  of  course, 
its  own  share  of  excitement,  and  gave  rise  to  varied  and 
contradictory  remarks.  Some  held  that  to  fill  so  impor- 
tant a  see  as  Philadelphia  a  Bishop  of  American  birth 
should  have  been  chosen;  that  he  should  be  conspicuous 
for  his  eloquence  and  fine  address;  that  a  religious  wedded 
to  prayer  and  the  seclusion  of  his  convent,  who  shrunk 
from  ecclesiastical  honors  and  distinctions,  was  entirely 
unsuited  for  so  elevated  a  dignity.  Others,  on  the  con- 
trary, regarded  the  new  appointment  with  favor,  and 
expected  much  from  the  Bishop-elect.  King  Louis  of 
Bavaria  wrote  as  follows  to  his  chaplain,  Rev.  Father 
Miiller:  "  Father  Neumann  the  Redemptorist  has  been 
appointed  Bishop  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  appointment 
has  been  confirmed  by  the  Holy  Father.  This  is  a  sub- 
ject for  joy.  It  will  exert  a  powerful  and  beneficial 
influence  not  only  on  the  interests  of  the  Church  at  large, 
but  it  will  contribute  also  in  a  very  particular  manner 
to  the  promotion  of  Christian  education,  to  true  culture." 

In  Philadelphia  itself  private  opinion  ran  in  counter- 
currents.  Many  were  in  favor  of  the  new  appointment; 
others  (and  such  are  ever  to  be  found),  with  very  little, 
perhaps  no  knowledge  of  the  merits  or  demerits  of  the 
new  incumbent,  adopted  opposite  views;  yet  all  were 
edified  at  the  fact  of  Father  Neumann's  having  been 
constrained  by  a  formal  obedience  from  the  Holy  Father 
to  accept  the  dignity. 

The  Cathedral  of  Philadelphia  was  not  at  this  period 
completed;  it  had  in  fact  but  just  been  commenced. 
The  Congregation  attended  the  churches  in  their  nearest 
vicinity — St.  Patrick's,  St.  John's,  etc.  But  two  of  the 
parlors  in  the  episcopal  residence  had  been  fitted  up  as 
a  chapel.  Here  the  Holy  Sacrifice  was  offered,  the  pa- 


318  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

rishioners  free  to  attend  if  they  wished,  and  the  children 
were  assembled  for  catechetical  instructions.  The  pas- 
tor of  this  little  temporary  chapel  wrote  to  the  Bishop- 
elect  a  letter  filled  with  expressions  of  the  kindest  senti- 
ments. He  described  the  good-will  of  his  future  flock, 
their  devotedness  to  their  diocesan,  and  ended  with  the 
hope  that,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  he  would  effect 
grand  results  in  behalf  of  souls.  Father  Neumann 
answered  in  the  same  cordial  strain,  remarking  pleas- 
antly that  he  feared  his  correspondent  would  be  greatly 
disappointed  in  the  expectations  he  had  formed  of  him; 
that  he  viewed  him  in  far  too  favorable  a  light. 

It  will  not  be  uninteresting  to  hear  how  old  Mr. 
Philip  Neumann,  the  Bishop-elect's  sole  surviving  par- 
ent, received  the  intelligence  of  the  honor  conferred  on 
his  son.  The  first  intimation  of  it  was  from  a  priest 
who  had  seen  the  appointment  in  one  of  the  newspapers. 
He  proceeded  to  offer  his  congratulations,  when  the 
simple-hearted  old  gentleman  interrupted  him  with  the 

words,  "  Father  A ,  how  can  you  believe  such  a 

thing?  Who  has  dared  to  ridicule  us  in  this  way?" 
Shortly  after  an  official  entered  with  the  same  glad  tid- 
ings, but  Mr.  Neumann  would  not  listen  to  him.  He 
cut  short  every  attempt  at  explanation  with  the  words, 
"Don't  bring  me  such  news!"  Next  came  the  Reverend 
Dean  on  the  same  errand,  but  he  too  was  met  with  the 
reproof,  "  Reverend  Father,  are  you  also  so  credulous  as 
to  put  faith  in  such  rumors  ?" 

It  was  not  till  Father  Neumann  himself  wrote  to  ac- 
quaint his  father  of  the  dignity  to  which  he  had  been 
raised  that  the  venerable  old  gentleman  would  credit 
what  to  him  seemed  utterly  incredible. 

Very  Rev.  Father  Bernard  desired  Father  Neumann 
to  write  before  his  consecration  a  sketch  of  his  own  life, 
to  be  handed  over  to  the  Congregation.  Father  Neu- 
mann complied  with  his  Provincial's  command,  and 
wrote  four  quarto  pages,  dated  March  27,  1852.  He 


Labors  as   Vice-Provincial.  319 

concludes  with  these  words:  "  To-morrow,  March  28th, 
my  birthday,  which  this  year  falls  on  Passion-Sunday,  I 
shall,  if  nothing  prevents,  be  consecrated  Bishop  in  St. 
Alphonsus'  Church,  by  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Kenrick. 
But  do  Thou,  O  Lord,  have  mercy  tu  us!  Jesus  and 
Mary,  pity  me!  Passion  of  Christ,  strengthen  me!" 

On  the  eve  of  this  most  eventful  day  in  a  life  so 
crowded  with  high  and  noble  deeds  in  God's  interests, 
the  day  on  which  Father  Neumann's  consecration  was 
to  take  place,  numbers  of  Redemptorist  Fathers 
arrived  in  Baltimore  from  their  different  houses.  They 
came  to  express  by  their  presence  the  love  and  respect 
they  entertained  for  the  object  of  the  unusual  solemnity. 
One  of  them  to  whom  Father  Neumann's  humility  was 
well  known,  one  who  fully  appreciated  the  painful  emo- 
tions his  appointment  must  have  excited,  gave  utterance 
to  some  words  of  sympathy  and  questioned  him  as  to 
his  feelings  upon  the  occasion.  Father  Neumann  an- 
swered, "  If  our  Lord  gave  me  the  choice  either  to  die 
or  to  accept  this  dignity,  I  should  prefer  to  lay  down  my 
life  to-morrow  rather  than  be  consecrated  Bishop;  for 
my  salvation  would  be  more  secure  at  the  judgment- 
seat  of  God  than  it  will  be  if  I  appear  before  it  burdened 
with  the  responsibility  of  a  bishopric." 


320  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER   VII. 
Father  Neumann  is  raised  to  the  Episcopate. 

EARLY  on  the  morning  of  Passion-Sunday  the 
faithful  flocked  from  far  and  near  to  St.  Alphon- 
sus'  to  witness  the  sublime  ceremony  of  an  episcopal 
consecration.  Hours  before  the  appointed  time  the 
spacious  edifice  was  already  densely  crowded.  The 
Catholic  societies  of  the  city  assembled  to  join  in  the 
demonstration  offered  to  Father  Neumann.  A  proces- 
sion was  formed  headed  by  the  children  of  the  schools 
under  the  charge  of  the  Redemptorists,  and  closed  by 
the  reverend  clergy  surrounded  by  a  guard  of  honor. 
The  procession  moved  in  silence  through  Saratoga, 
Howard,  Franklin,  and  Charles  streets,  as  far  as  the 
archiepiscopal  residence.  Here  it  was  joined  by  the 
Archbishop  and  other  dignitaries,  when  it  returned 
through  Charles  and  Saratoga  streets  to  St.  Alphonsus' 
Church,  where  the  young  Bishop-elect  knelt  at  the  foot 
of  the  altar.  The  consecrating  prelate,  Archbishop 
Francis  Patrick  Kenrick,  was  assisted  by  Bishop  O'Reilly 
of  Hartford,  and  Father  L'Homme,  Superior  of  St. 
Mary's  Seminary,  Baltimore.  Father  William  Elder, 
Professor  at  Mount  St.  Mary's,  Emmittsburg  (after- 
ward Archbishop  of  Cincinnati),  and  Father  Coudenhove 
acted  as  Deacons  of  Honor.  Besides  those  mentioned, 
there  were  over  thirty  members  of  the  clergy  present  in 
the  sanctuary.  Rev.  Father  Sourin,  administrator  of 
the  diocese  of  Philadelphia,  preached  on  the  occasion, 
and  addressed  the  new  Bishop  in  the  most  cordial  terms. 
His  words  and  the  imposing  ceremonies  made  a  deep 
impression  on  all  present.  But  when,  at  the  close,  the 


Raised  to  the  Episcopate.  321 

twenty-four  Redemptorist  scholastics  intoned  the  solemn 
Te  Deum  whilst  the  newly-consecrated  Bishop  passed 
down  the  aisle,  giving  the  episcopal  blessing  to  his  be- 
loved parishioners,  over  whom  he  had  so  lovingly  and 
faithfully  presided  for  years,  the  whole  congregation 
melted  into  tears. 

That  evening,  the  evening  of  a  day  so  memorable  for  St. 
Alphonsus*  Church,  Bishop  Neumann  preached  his  fare- 
well sermon.  In  feeling  terms  he  thanked  his  hearers  for 
the  confidence  they  had  always  reposed  in  him  as  their 
pastor,  encouraged  them  to  perseverance  in  the  way  of 
God,  and  bequeathed  to  them  as  his  parting  gift  a  child- 
like devotion  to  Mary,  ever  blessed. 

Service  over,  the  German  Catholics  of  Baltimore  pre- 
sented the  new  Bishop  with  an  address,  embodying 
thanks  for  all  the  good  he  had  effected  in  their  behalf 
and  regrets  at  being  called  upon  to  part  from  him. 
They  congratulated  themselves  on  having  had  a  guide 
for  whom  the  common  Father  of  the  Faithful  had  enter- 
tained so  great  esteem  as  to  raise  him  to  the  dignity  of 
the  episcopate.  Deeply  moved,  Bishop  Neumann  re- 
turned thanks  for  their  sentiments  in  his  regard,  and 
promised  ever  to  be  mindful  in  prayer  of  the  Catholics 
of  Baltimore. 

Not  merely  by  words  did  his  former  parishioners  ex- 
press their  respectful  and  grateful  love  for  their  pastor: 
they  manifested  the  sincerity  of  their  devotedness  to 
him  by  deeds.  On  March  22d  it  was  resolved  in  general 
meeting  to  give  the  Bishop  a  grand  serenade  before  his 
departure  to  his  diocese,  and  to  present  him  a  handsome 
chalice,  a  ring,  a  pectoral  cross  and  chain,  all  of  gold, 
together  with  other  episcopal  ornaments. 

St.  Philomena's  congregation,  Pittsburg,  was  not  un- 
mindful of  the  good  that  the  Bishop  had  done  among 
them.  A  delegation  from  its  members  waited  upon  him 
to  offer  congratulations  and  to  present  him  with  a  beau- 
tiful ostensorium. 


322  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

The  day  following  his  consecration  the  Bishop  visited 
the  schools  and  earnestly  exhorted  the  children  to  life- 
long fidelity  to  their  God. 

And  now  the  voice  of  duty,  that  powerful  underlying 
principle  of  John  Neumann's  life,  called.  He  must 
away  to  the  new  scene  of  future  labors  in  his  Lord's 
vineyard.  The  call  was  heard  and  obeyed.  Unhesitat- 
ingly, his  heart  filled  with  that  deep,  abiding  trust  in 
God  which  we  have  so  often  seen  and  reverently  ad- 
mired in  him  he  set  out  on  Tuesday  morning,  March 
3oth,  for  his  episcopal  city  of  Philadelphia. 

The  burden  so  dreaded  was  upon  him.  He  took  up 
his  cross  and  followed  Him,  "the  Way,  the  Truth,  and 
the  Life." 


PART  IV. 


FATHER    NEUMANN    AS    BISHOP    OF    PHILA- 
DELPHIA. 

1852-1860. 


CHAPTER  I. 
The  Diocese  of  Philadelphia. 

THE  diocese  of  Philadelphia  is  one  of  the  oldest 
and  largest  in  the  United  States,  as  a  brief  glance 
at  its  history  will  show.  In  1852,  when  Father  Neu- 
mann entered  upon  its  government  as  its  fourth  Bishop, 
it  embraced  two  thirds  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
western  part  of  New  Jersey,  and  the  whole  of  Delaware. 
We  may  form  an  idea  of  the  extent  of  its  territory 
when  we  remember  that  since  1868  five  new  dioceses 
have  been  formed  out  of  it,  leaving  it  still  one  of  the 
largest  in  the  States. 

At  a  remote  period  Catholic  missionaries  made  their 
way  to  Pennsylvania  to  administer  to  the  settlers  the 
consolations  of  our  holy  religion.  But  the  first  mention 
made  of  the  existence  of  Catholicity  in  Philadelphia  we 
find  in  a  letter  written  by  the  founder  of  the  State, 
William  Penn.  According  to  it,  an  aged  priest  in  1686 
held  divine  service  for  the  Catholic  settlers  in  a  frame 
building  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Front  and  Walnut 
streets.  It  is  certain  that  in  the  year  1708  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  was  celebrated  in  Philadelphia, 


324  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

since  in  that  year  complaints  were  launched  against 
Governor  James  Logan  that,  in  spite  of  the  rigid  laws 
of  England,  he  had  permitted  Catholics  to  hold  divine 
service.  In  1733  Governor  Gordon  disapproved  the 
building  of  St.  Joseph's  Church  which  Father  Greaton 
had  erected  in  Fourth  Street.  The  governor  stigma- 
tized it  as  a  "Popish  Mass-house."  Yet  in  the  decrees 
of  Divine  Providence  the  time  had  been  determined  for 
the  fetters  placed  by  England  upon  the  Church  in 
America  to  be  removed.  This  was  effected  by  the 
Revolutionary  War  of  1775.  The  freedom  of  the  States 
from  the  English  yoke  brought  with  it  also  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  Church.  The  French  and  the  Spanish 
soldiers,  our  Catholic  allies,  had  with  them  their  chap- 
lains, who,  little  heeding  the  laws  of  England  against 
the  Church,  held  public  service  for  full  congregations 
of  both  soldiers  and  officers.  This,  as  a  contemporary 
writer  remarks,  was  a  novel  sight  for  American  sec- 
tarians. Partly  from  curiosity,  partly  through  polite- 
ness, the  officers  of  the  Federal  troops  accompanied 
their  allies  to  divine  service,  and  this  contributed  in  no 
small  degree  to  awaken  among  the  masses  a  disposition 
more  favorable  to  Catholicity. 

After  the  successful  close  of  the  war,  a  solemn  Te 
Deum  was  sung  in  St.  Joseph's,  in  thanksgiving  to 
the  Lord  of  Hosts  for  the  victory  granted  the  Federal 
arms.  The  Holy  Sacrifice  was  offered  on  the  same 
occasion,  and  Rev.  Father  Beduale,  chaplain  of  the 
Spanish  Embassy,  delivered  a  most  eloquent  sermon. 
The  Marquis  de  la  Lucerne  had  invited  to  the  solemnity 
the  members  of  the  United  States  Congress  and  the 
highest  officers  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  The  invi- 
tation was  accepted;  even  Generals  Washington  and  La 
Fayette  were  present.  A  public  recognition  was  there- 
by given  to  such  Catholics  as  Carroll,  Barr,  Moylan, 
Fitzsimmons,  who  had  sacrificed  much  for  their  country, 
and  also  to  the  brave  soldiers  of  the  same  holy  faith 


The  Diocese  of  Philadelphia.  325 

who  had  ventured  their  all  for  liberty.  After  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  United  States  had  been  proclaimed  and 
the  free  exercise  of  Catholic  worship  secured  by  the 
new  Constitution,  the  Catholics,  ever  ready  to  make 
sacrifices,  began  to  erect  churches  for  the  exercise  of 
their  holy  religion.  The  Germans,  though  few  in  num- 
ber at  that  early  period,  were  not  behind  in  their  efforts 
to  uphold  the  faith.  In  1787  they  erected  on  the  cor- 
ner of  Sixth  and  Spruce  streets  the  church  of  the  Holy 
Trinity,  which  was  dedicated  on  November  20,  1789. 
A  few  years  later  the  Augustinian  Fathers  built  St. 
Augustine's  in  Fourth  Street.  At  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century,  therefore,  four  Catholic  churches  were 
already  in  existence  within  the  precincts  of  Philadelphia. 

When,  in  1808,  Baltimore  was  raised  to  an  archiepisco- 
pal  see,  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and  Bards- 
town,  respectively,  became  new  dioceses.  The  first 
Bishop  of  Philadelphia,  Rev.  Michael  Egan,  was  conse- 
crated October  28,  1810,  by  Archbishop  Carroll,  in  St. 
Peter's  Church,  Baltimore.  The  Baltimore  diocese  com- 
prised an  extensive  territory,  but  numbered  only  four- 
teen priests,  of  whom  seven  belonged  to  the  Society  of 
Jesus  and  four  were  Augustinians.  Bishop  Egan  was 
succeeded  by  Bishop  Conwell,  who  died  April  22,  1842, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five. 

On  June  6,  1830,  Rev.  Francis  Patrick  Kenrick  was 
made  Coadjutor  of  the  aged  Bishop,  with  the  right  of 
succession.  As  Coadjutor  and,  later  on,  as  the  third 
Bishop  of  Philadelphia  he  was  most  active  and  zealous 
in  the  government  of  his  large  diocese.  The  great 
learning  of  this  prelate,  which  has  been  characterized 
as  exhaustive,  together  with  his  eminent  holiness,  has 
elicited  for  him  unanimous  and  well-deserved  praise. 

August  19,  1851,  saw  Bishop  Kenrick  transferred  to 
the  archiepiscopal  see  of  Baltimore.  He  was  succeeded, 
as  we  have  already  seen,  by  Father  Neumann,  CLSS.R-, 
the  subject  of  this  biography. 


326  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  II. 
Bishop  Neumann's  Arrival  in  Philadelphia. 

THE  fame  of  Bishop  Neumann's  eminent  virtues 
had  long  preceded  his  entrance  into  his  diocese; 
and  when  the  clergy  of  Philadelphia  met  in  council  to 
determine  upon  the  worthy  reception  of  their  new 
Bishop,  one  of  the  gentlemen  arose  and  spoke  as  fol- 
lows: "Reverend  sirs,  I  am  acquainted  with  the  humil- 
ity and  modesty  of  our  new  Bishop.  He  is  no  friend  to 
worldly  pomp,  or  splendor,  or  public  demonstrations;  in 
fact,  such  a  reception  would  annoy  him  exceedingly.  I 
therefore  propose,  as  a  fitting  demonstration  of  our 
cordial  welcome  to  him,  to  establish  a  new  school,  and 
explain  to  him  on  his  arrival  that  in  doing  so  we  sought 
to  give  expression  to  our  joy  at  his  appointment  as 
Bishop  of  Philadelphia." 

The  proposal  was  esteemed  highly  judicious  and 
met  with  unanimous  approval.  The  work  was  begun 
at  once.  When  Bishop  Neumann  arrived  in  the  city 
and  found  a  number  of  the  clergy  assembled  at  the  rail- 
way station  to  escort  him  to  his  residence,  his  counte- 
nance beamed  with  joy,  and  he  exclaimed,  "  Oh,  how  I 
thank  you,  gentlemen,  for  this  quiet  but  cordial  recep- 
tion! It  is  just  what  I  wished." 

Again  was  his  happiness  augmented  when,  in  a  short 
address,  he  learned  that  the  establishment  of  a  new 
school,  and  not  external  pomp,  was  to  celebrate  his 
entrance  into  his  diocese.  In  a  few  cordial  words  the 
Bishop  acknowledged  their  kindly  interest,  and  declared 
that  they  had  rightly  estimated  his  heart's  desires  ; 
that  works  such  as  they  now  proposed  would  greatly 


Arrival  in  Philadelphia.  327 

lighten  for  him  the  cares  of  his  office.  On  that  same 
evening  the  German  Catholic  societies  of  St.  Peter's 
assembled  before  the  episcopal  residence  and  welcomed 
their  Bishop  with  music  and  addresses.  He  thanked 
them  for  their  expressions  of  love  and  respect,  exhorted 
them  to  live  as  true  children  of  Holy  Church,  and 
dismissed  them,  pleased  and  gratified,  with  his  paternal 
benediction. 

One  of  Bishop  Neumann's  first  acts  in  his  new  capa- 
city was  to  visit  the  prison  in  which  two  brothers  were 
awaiting  the  execution  of  their  condign  sentence  for 
murder.  The  fatal  day  was  drawing  near,  but  the  un- 
fortunate men  still  obstinately  refused  every  spiritual 
assistance.  Hour  after  hour  did  the  zealous  prelate 
remain  in  the  cell  of  the  condemned,  until  at  last,  by 
his  meekness  and  prayers,  those  hard  hearts  were  soft- 
ened, and  he  was  made  glad  by  hearing  them  ask  for  the 
Sacraments,  which  they  received  with  sincere  sorrow 
and  devotion  on  the  very  day  of  their  execution. 

The  sentiments  and  intentions  that  animated  the 
young  Bishop  we  may  learn  from  his  first  Pastoral 
Letter,  which  he  issued  the  second  week  after  his  conse- 
cration. It  reads  as  follows: 

"  JOHN  NEPOMUCENE,  by  the  grace  of  God  and  favor  of  the 

Apostolic  See  Bishop  of  Philadelphia,  to  the  Clergy  and 

Faithful  of  the  diocese  of  Philadelphia. 

"Grace  be  to  you  and  peace  from  God  our  Father, 
and  from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"Venerable  Brethren  of  the  Clergy  and  dearly  beloved 
Children  of  the  Laity:  When  it  was  first  announced  to 
us  that  our  Holy  Father  Pius  IX.  had  appointed  us  to 
the  pastoral  care  and  government  of  this  important  por- 
tion of  the  flock  of  Christ,  we  must  confess  that  the 
heavy  charge  filled  our  heart  with  anxiety.  To  leave 
those  from  whom  we  had  experienced  for  many  years 
the  most  cordial  affection;  to  enter  upon  an  entirely 


328  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

new  sphere  of  duty;  to  assume  the  government  of  so  vast 
a  number  of  souls,  who  would  look  to  us  to  lead  them 
on  to  our  heavenly  home — all  this  urged  us  to  implore 
the  Lord  to  remove  the  chalice  from  us.  We  have,  how- 
ever, been  compelled  to  bow  in  obedience  to  the  suc- 
cessor of  St.  Peter,  knowing  that  whatsoever  he  binds 
on  earth  shall  be  bound  also  in  heaven;  and  submitting 
to  the  will  of  God,  we  humbly  hope  that  He  who  hath 
commenced  in  us  what  the  Apostle  St.  Paul  calls  "a 
good  work"  will  graciously  grant  us  that  sufficiency 
which  is  required  to  bring  it  to  perfection.  This  our 
trust  in  God  has  been  much  strengthened  by  the  kind 
encouragement  we  have  received  from  the  Most  Rev. 
Archbishop  Francis  Patrick  Kenrick,  who  through  so 
many  years  of  untiring  labor  endeared  himself  to  you 
all.  He  has  repeatedly  assured  us  of  the  zeal  and  at- 
tachment he  had  experienced  on  the  part  of  your  rev- 
erend pastors.  Often  has  he  spoken  in  terms  of  praise 
of  the  piety  by  which  you  had  consoled  him  in  the  midst 
of  his  toils;  of  your  liberality,  which  had  called  into  ex- 
istence and  supported  so  many  charitable  institutions, 
and  erected  edifices  to  the  glory  of  the  living  God  which 
will  bear  testimony  to  future  generations  of  your  lively 
faith,  prompt  generosity,  and  practical  charity,  when  you 
are  enjoying  in  His  presence  the  eternal  rewards  He  has 
in  store  for  those  who  love  Him. 

"  Since  we  have  occupied  our  episcopal  see  we  have 
daily  received  unequivocal  marks  of  attachment  and 
obedience.  The  former  administrator  of  the  diocese,  the 
Very  Rev.  Edward  J.  Sourin,  has  accepted  the  office  of  our 
Vicar-General,  much  to  our  satisfaction.  The  cordial 
welcome  we  have  met  in  the  different  religious  houses 
and  congregations  we  have  visited,  has  confirmed  our 
happiest  anticipation  as  to  the  faith,  piety,  and  zeal  of 
the  flock  committed  to  our  care  by  the  Divine  Pastor  and 
Bishop  of  our  souls.  For  all  His  mercies  we  return 
thanks  to  Him,  '  the  Holy  One  and  the  True,  who  hath 


Arrival  in  Philadelphia.  329 

the  key  of  David,  who  hath  given  before  us  a  door 
opened,'  which,  we  trust  in  God,  no  man  will  be  able  to 
shut. 

"  Venerable  brethren,  we  beseech  you  most  earnestly 
to  assist  us  always  by  your  prayers  for  us,  that  we  may 
finish  our  course  and  the  ministry  of  the  Word  which  we 
have  received  from  Jesus  Christ;  that  we  may  take  heed 
to  ourselves  and  to  all  the  flock  over  which  the  Holy 
Ghost  has  placed  us,  a  Bishop,  to  rule  the  Church  of 
God,  which  He  has  purchased  with  His  own  precious 
blood;  and  that  we  may  use  without  fear  or  wavering 
that  power  which  the  Lord  hath  given  us  to  the  edifica- 
tion of  His  Church.  On  our  part,  we  shall  not  cease  to 
entreat  the  Good  Shepherd  to  increase  His  grace  in  your 
hearts,  that  as  men  of  God  you  '  may  fly  all  worldly  de- 
sires and  pursue  justice,  piety,  faith,  charity,  patience, 
meekness;  that  you  may  keep  the  commandments  with- 
out spot,  blameless  unto  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.' 

"  And  those  amongst  you,  beloved  children,  who,  listen- 
ing to  the  invitation  of  the  Most  Holy,  have  left  father, 
mother,  brethren,  and  sisters  to  dedicate  yourselves  to 
the  service  of  Jesus  Christ  in  poverty,  chastity,  and  obe- 
dience, truly  have  ye  chosen  the  better  part.  Strive, 
therefore,  fervently  to  render  yourselves  ever  more  pleas- 
ing to  your  Divine  Spouse,  for  your  life  is  hidden  with 
Christ  in  God.  Put  ye  on,  therefore,  as  the  elect  of 
God,  holy  and  beloved,  mercy,  benignity,  humility, 
modesty,  patience;  bearing  with  one  another,  and  for- 
giving one  another  if  any  have  a  complaint  against  an- 
other. But  above  all  these  things  have  charity,  which  is 
the  bond  of  perfection.  And  when  Christ  shall  appear, 
who  is  your  life,  then  shall  you  also  appear  with  Him  in 
glory. 

"  Beloved  children  of  the  laity,  my  joy  and  my  crown, 
if  you  be  faithful  in  those  things  which  ye  have  both 
learned  and  received,  we  exhort  you  with  the  great 


330  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Apostle  that  you  '  may  be  blameless  and  sincere  children 
of  God,  without  reproof  in  the  midst  of  this  world;  hat- 
ing that  which  is  evil,  cleaving  to  that  which  is  good; 
loving  one  another  with  the  charity  of  brotherhood;  in 
spirit  fervent,  serving  the  Lord;  to  no  man  rendering 
evil  for  evil;  providing  good  things  not  only  in  the 
sight  of  God,  but  also  in  the  sight  of  all  men.  And 
whosoever  shall  follow  this  rule,  may  peace  be  upon 
them  and  mercy;  and  may  my  God  supply  all  your 
wants,  according  to  His  riches,  in  glory  in  Christ 
Jesus! 

"  On  your  zeal  and  charity,  next  to  the  good  pleasure 
of  the  Almighty,  we  must  continue  to  rely  for  the  com- 
pletion of  several  important  works  commenced  by  our 
most  reverend  predecessor.  Among  them,  not  only  on 
account  of  the  grandeur  of  the  work,  but  even  more  in 
consequence  of  the  heavy  expense  we  must  incur  while 
it  remains  in  its  present  unfinished  state,  we  especially 
commend  to  your  attention  the  Cathedral  of  SS.  Peter 
and  Paul.  We  are  not  unmindful,  beloved  brethren,  of 
your  many  sacrifices  for  the  sake  of  your  religion.  We 
cannot  be  insensible  how  greatly  your  generous  devotion 
has  contributed  to  the  diffusion  of  truth  and  virtue,  and 
to  the  relief  of  suffering  humanity.  But  whilst  the  grad- 
ual increase  of  wealth  on  every  side,  the  accumulation  of 
all  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  life,  attest  the  prosperity 
to  which  this  favored  country  has  already  attained,  in 
which  prosperity  many  of  you  participate,  let  us  beware 
lest  the  reproaches  of  the  prophet  should  prove  well 
founded  in  our  regard:  'This  people  saith,  The  time  is 
not  yet  come  to  build  the  house  of  the  Lord.  And  the 
word  of  the  Lord  came  by  the  hand  of  Aggeus  the 
Prophet,  saying,  Is  it  time  for  you  to  dwell  in  ceiled 
houses  and  this  house  be  desolate  ?  And  now  thus  saith 
the  Lord  of  hosts:  Set  your  hearts  to  consider  your  ways. 
You  have  sowed  much  and  brought  in  little;  you  have 
looked  for  more,  and  behold,  it  came  less;  and  you 


Arrival  in  Philadelphia.  331 

brought  it  home,  and  I  blowed  it  away:  why?  saith  the 
Lord  of  Hosts.  Because  my  house  is  desolate,  and  you 
make  haste,  every  man  to  his  own  house.'  To  these  com- 
plaints of  the  Holy  Spirk  what  answer  did  Israel  give  ? 
With  zealous  emulation,  they  went  in  and  did  the  work 
of  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  their  God;  and  the  temple  was  not 
yet  finished,  when  they  heard — '  From  this  day  I  will  bless 
you.  Take  courage,  all  ye  people  of  the  land,  and  per- 
form: fear  not,  for  I  am  with  you — and  my  spirit  in  the 
midst  of  you,  saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts.' 

"Though  circumstances  do  not  now  allow  us  to  dwell 
at  length  on  the  subject,  we  avail  ourselves  of  this  earli- 
est opportunity  to  express  our  approbation  of  the  efforts 
which  have  lately  been  made  in  several  congregations 
to  organize  parochial  schools.  We  exhort  the  pastors, 
and  all  who  have  at  heart  the  best  interests  of  youth,  to 
spare  no  efforts  to  ensure  success.  Whatever  difficulties 
may  at  first  attend,  and  even  obstruct,  this  most  desirable 
undertaking  will  be  gradually  overcome  by  mutual 
good-will  and  co-operation. 

"  It  is  with  grateful  joy  we  make  known  to  you  that 
our  Holy  Father  has  again  offered  to  the  faithful 
throughout  the  world  a  plenary  indulgence  in  the  form 
of  a  jubilee;  the  most  salutary  effects,  both  for  the  Church 
and  society,  having  resulted  from  that  proclaimed  within 
the  last  few  years.  Amid  the  many  trials  and  profound 
sorrows  which  have  marked  his  pontificate,  he  has  been 
consoled  by  the  accounts  that  have  reached  him  from 
every  part  of  Christendom  of  the  multitudes  who, 
with  humble  and  contrite  hearts,  have  thronged  our 
churches  to  hear  the  Word  of  God,  to  purify  their  souls 
in  the  sacrament  of  reconciliation  and  receive  the  Holy 
Eucharist;  performing,  meanwhile,  with  humble  and  de- 
vout obedience  the  other  spiritual  exercises  which,  as 
the  Vicar  of  Jesus  Christ,  he  had  enjoined  upon  them. 
Thousands  in  every  country,  who  had  been  for  years 
astray  from  the  way  of  truth  and  salvation,  have  been 


332  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

enlightened  by  the  grace  of  God  to  forsake  the  shadows 
of  death  and  to  commence  a  truly  Christian  life. 

"  Notwithstanding  this  happy  result,  our  chief  Pastor 
is  not  without  apprehension  for  the  future  welfare  of  the 
Church  and  of  society.  He  beholds  the  dangers  which 
threaten  both  ;  the  designs  of  men  who,  deceived  by  a 
vain  philosophy  and  their  false  ideas  of  liberty,  despise 
all  lawful  authority,  whether  civil  or  ecclesiastical,  per- 
vert the  minds  of  inexperienced  youth,  and  expose  to 
contempt  the  most  sacred  rites  and  institutions  of  reli- 
gion. Aware  that  from  no  quarter  can  they  expect  more 
determined  and  constant  opposition  than  from  the  Apos- 
tolic See,  it  is  therefore  against  this  venerable  authority 
that  they  direct  their  most  violent  attacks.  In  these 
dangers,  what  other  course  remains  for  the  friends  of 
order,  justice,  and  virtue  than  to  recur  to  the  Almighty, 
who  is  our  hope  and  our  salvation,  and  to  pray  without 
ceasing  that  He  would  deign  to  look  down  upon  the 
nations,  to  enlighten  their  erring  minds,  to  purify  their 
hearts,  and  subdue  that  rebellious  will  which  now  leads 
them  to  revolt  against  Him  and  His  Church,  '  that,  be- 
ing delivered  from  the  hand  of  our  enemies,  we  may 
serve  Him  without  fear,  in  holiness  and  justice,  all  the 
days  of  our  life  '  ? 

[Here  the  Bishop  mentions  the  conditions  for  gaining 
the  indulgence  of  the  jubilee,  and  recommends  in  the 
following  words  to  the  prayers  of  the  faithful  the  Coun- 
cil which  the  Bishops  of  the  United  States  were  to  hold 
in  Baltimore:] 

"You  are  probably  aware,  beloved  brethren,  that  the 
First  National  Council  will  soon  be  held  in  Baltimore, 
its  opening  being  fixed  for  the  fourth  Sunday  after  Eas- 
ter. Every  faithful  member  of  the  Church  in  the  United 
States  will  regard  it  as  an  imperative  duty  to  invoke 
the  Holy  Spirit — the  Spirit  of  truth,  wisdom,  and  piety — 
to  preside  over  its  deliberations,  that  all  its  proceedings 
and  enactments  may  tend  to  the  glory  of  Jesus  Christ 


Arrival  in  Philadelphia.  333 

and  the  more  perfect  establishment  of  His  kingdom  in 
all  hearts.  To  this  end,  we  direct  that  the  collect, 
De  Spiritu  Sancto,  be  added  in  the  Mass  whenever  the 
rubrics  allow  it ;  the  religious  communities  will  recite 
daily  the  Litany  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  ;  and  the  same 
or  other  prayers  for  this  object  we  exhort  the  faithful  of 
our  diocese  to  offer  to  God  until  the  close  of  the 
Council. 

"And  now,  brethren,  commending  you  to  God  and  to 
the  word  of  His  grace,  our  daily  prayer  for  you  is  'that 
your  charity  may  more  and  more  abound  in  knowledge 
and  in  all  understanding ;  that  you  may  approve  the 
better  things  ;  that  you  may  be  sincere  and  without 
offence  unto  the  day  of  Christ,  replenished  with  the  fruit 
of  justice,  through  Jesus  Christ,  unto  the  glory  and 
praise  of  God.'  May  our  dear  Mother  Mary  and  her 
Divine  Son  bless  you  all !  Amen." 


334  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  III. 
Bishop  Neumann's  Pastoral  Charge. 

J3  ICHARD  H.  CLARKE  says,  in  his  work  entitled 
Xv  "  Lives  of  the  Deceased  Bishops  of  the  Catholic 
Church  in  the  United  States,"  "  Bishop  Neumann  chiefly 
distinguished  his  administration  by  continuing  and  in- 
creasing the  work  of  his  predecessor;  in  new  and  impor- 
tant undertakings  of  his  own;  ...  in  promoting  piety 
and  faith  amongst  his  people." 

The  Bishop's  first  care  for  the  judicious  government 
of  his  vast  diocese  was  to  examine  closely  into  its  con- 
dition. In  this  examination  he  was  successful,  as  his 
subsequent  regulations  prove.  On  the  very  first  Sunday 
after  his  installation,  he  performed  the  ceremony  of 
blessing  the  palm  and  preached  in  St.  John's,  his  pro- 
Cathedral.  That  afternoon  he  administered  the  Sacra- 
ment of  Confirmation  at  St.  Patrick's,  and  preached 
again  that  night  at  St.  Joseph's.  No  Sunday  or  holy-day 
passed  without  his  preaching  in  one  or  several  churches. 
During  the  first  weeks  of  his  residence  in  Philadelphia 
he  visited  all  the  religious  communities,  the  orphan 
asylums,  the  hospitals,  etc.,  informing  himself  as  to  their 
spiritual  and  temporal  condition.  Everywhere  was  he 
received  with  respect  and  treated  with  confidence.  His 
whole  demeanor  bespoke  him  a  true  father  who  sought 
only  the  good  of  every  member  of  his  large  family. 
Both  clergy  and  laity  called  on  him  frequently  for  ad- 
vice and  consolation  in  their  doubts  and  difficulties. 

Well  aware  that  not  the  city  of  Philadelphia  alone 
claimed  his  care,  Bishop  Neumann  set  out  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible to  make  his  pastoral  visitation,  in  which  he  included 
(this  being  the  first  time  he  performed  the  duty)  the  small- 


Bishop  Neumanns  Pastoral  Charge.     335 

est  and  most  distant  country  stations.  His  custom  ever 
after  was  to  visit  the  larger  places  of  his  diocese  every 
year,  the  smaller  at  least  once  in  two  years.  He  remained 
several  days  in  each  parish,  instituting  a  minute  inquiry 
into  their  actual  condition,  in  order  to  remedy  as  far 
as  practicable  any  abuses  or  evils  that  might  exist. 
His  pastoral  visit  was,  at  the  same  time,  something  of  a 
mission  for  the  people,  for  he  preached  to  them  and  gave 
special  instructions  to  the  children.  The  daily  exercises 
he  mapped  out  for  such  occasions  were  like  those  of  a 
spiritual  retreat.  From  early  morn  till  late  at  night  he 
was  open  to  all — all  were  at  liberty  to  communicate  to 
him,  their  good  pastor,  whatever  they  might  have  on 
their  mind.  The  confessional  was  the  chosen  theatre  of 
his  activity.  The  faithful  rejoiced  to  be  able  to  confess 
to  their  Bishop,  to  lay  open  to  him  the  wounds  of  their 
soul,  and  to  draw  consolation  from  his  paternal  heart. 
And  there  was  yet  another  reason  why  they  should  ex- 
ult. In  all  parts  of  his  diocese  he  found  some  who  could 
not  confess  to  their  pastors  in  their  native  tongue;  but 
the  Bishop,  it  was  generally  known,  was  conversant  in 
almost  every  language  spoken.  If  he  met  with  some 
scandal  in  a  parish,  he  left  no  means  untried  to  remove 
it,  and  his  efforts  were  generally  crowned  with  success. 
In  this  way  did  the  young  Bishop  spend  his  days.  His 
labors  were  so  rich  in  blessings  that  even  during  the 
first  years  of  his  administration  he  acquired  a  perfect 
insight  into  the  state  of  every  parish  under  his  jurisdic- 
tion. He  himself  drew  up  a  map  on  which  every  one 
was  properly  located.  The  fervor  of  his  flock  was  so 
great,  that  wherever  twenty  or  twenty-five  Catholic 
families  were  found,  there  they  petitioned  to  build  a 
church.  But  prudence  often  obliged  the  Bishop  to  mod- 
erate their  zeal  and  defer  the  fulfilment  of  their  gener- 
ous design.  During  the  first  five  years  of  his  episcopacy 
he  opened  over  fifty  churches.  In  1853  he  wrote  to  his 
venerable  father: 


336  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann, 

"The  past  summer  was  spent,  for  the  most  part,  in 
making  the  visitation  of  my  diocese,  a  work  not  unac- 
companied by  fatigue  and  privation,  but  which,  never- 
theless, affords  abundant  consolation.  Our  Catholics 
continue  to  increase  in  numbers,  and  they  exhibit  a  fer- 
vent love  for  their  holy  religion.  Last  summer  twenty 
churches  were  built  and  paid  for  out  of  the  collections 
taken  up  in  their  respective  parishes.  Six  of  these 
churches  are  for  the  Germans.  Here  in  Philadelphia 
four  other  churches  are  now  being  erected.  The  Cathe- 
dral will  be  of  stone,  the  others  of  brick." 

The  Bishop's  designs  for  the  welfare  of  his  flock  were 
not,  however,  always  seconded;  sorrow  and  vexation, 
caused  by  certain  self-opinionated  individuals,  were  not 
unknown  to  him.  But  his  patient  kindness,  his  gentle- 
ness, above  all  his  intercession  at  the  throne  of  grace, 
generally  overcame  the  obstinacy  of  those  that  had  been 
blinded  by  passion.  On  taking  charge  of  the  see  of 
Philadelphia,  Bishop  Neumann  found  Trinity  Church 
under  interdict,  and  the  feeling  of  a  certain  party  in 
this  the  oldest  German  parish  in  the  city  against  eccle- 
siastical authority  running  high.  The  prudence  and 
firmness  evinced  by  the  Bishop  in  the  unhappy  affair 
soon  brought  things  to  a  crisis.  The  most  unruly  mem- 
bers were  justly  dealt  with  by  the  highest  court  in  the 
land,  whilst  the  better  disposed  made  their  peace  with 
their  lawful  superiors. 

As  in  the  past  when  only  a  simple  missionary,  so  now 
as  chief  pastor  of  one  of  the  principal  sees  of  the  United 
States,  Bishop  Neumann  showed  forth  the  same  burning 
zeal  for  the  work  of  the  missions.  He  procured  them 
for  many  churches  of  his  diocese  during  the  first  years 
of  his  episcopate,  and  sought  by  his  own  presence  at 
the  exercises,  joined  to  his  prayers  for  their  success,  to 
animate  the  faithful  to  profit  by  them  for  their  souls' 
salvation.  Nothing  could  equal  his  joy  and  consolation 
on  beholding  them  well  attended.  The  sight  of  the 


Bishop  Neumanns  Pastoral  Charge.     337 

wonderful  and  persevering  assiduity  of  the  crowds  that 
thronged  the  churches  early  and  late  was  a  blessed  one 
for  him,  thirsting  as  he  did  for  souls. 

In  one  of  the  larger  parishes  of  the  city  there  existed, 
unhappily,  an  unusual  number  of  mixed  marriages 
which  had  been  contracted  before  Protestant  ministers. 
The  pastor  of  said  parish  was  very  severe  toward  these 
careless  Catholics  whose  indifference  and  disobedience 
to  Holy  Church  had  rendered  their  reconciliation  with 
God  most  difficult.  To  bring  back  these  stray  sheep 
into  the  fold  of  the  Lord  and  Master,  the  Bishop  went 
himself  during  the  mission,  to  the  church  in  question, 
and  requested  the  Fathers  to  send  him  all  the  delin- 
quents of  this  class.  He  was  obeyed;  and  this  faithful 
imitator  of  the  Good  Shepherd  had  the  consolation  of 
reconciling  many  repentant  sinners  to  their  God. 

If  the  good  Bishop  were  wholly  powerless  in  the  pre- 
vention of  an  evil,  he  did  what  he  could  to  diminish  it  as 
much  as  possible.  A  father  whose  daughter  would  not 
abandon  her  intention  to  marry  her  Protestant  suitor 
came  to  the  Bishop  and  imparted  to  him  his  trouble. 
The  Bishop  sent  for  the  deluded  girl,  reminded  her  of 
the  innumerable  evils  likely  to  result  from  such  unions, 
and  ended  by  laying  before  her  the  formal  prohibition 
of  the  Church.  The  girl  listened,  but  the  paternal 
admonitions  addressed  to  her  were  without  effect;  she 
remained  obstinately  resolved  on  her  first  purpose.  The 
Bishop,  seeing  that  further  remonstrances  would  be  un- 
availing, reluctantly  accorded  her  a  dispensation,  warn- 
ing her,  however,  that  many  trials  were  in  store  for  her, 
and  that  she  would  live  to  repent  of  her  rash  step. 
The  prediction  was,  alas  !  literally  fulfilled.  The  un- 
happy girl  did,  indeed,  live  to  expiate  by  years  of 
bitter  sorrow  her  act  of  disobedience  to  both  parent  and 
ecclesiastical  superior. 

True  shepherd  as  he  was,  Bishop  Neumann  was  ever 
ready  to  sympathize  with  any  member  of  his  flock  in 


338  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

misfortune.  Witness  the  following  fact.  It  has  long 
been  an  established  custom  for  the  children  belonging 
to  the  different  parishes  to  make  an  annual  excursion 
into  the  country,  there  to  spend  a  day  in  cheerful  and 
innocent  recreation  of  mind  and  body.  In  1850  the 
young  people  of  St.  Michael's  Church  had  long  looked 
forward  to  July  lyth,  the  day  appointed  for  their  picnic. 
They  started  at  an  early  hour  for  Fort  Washington, 
about  fourteen  miles  from  the  city.  The  pastor  of  the 
church,  Rev.  Daniel  Sheridan,  the  teachers  of  the 
school,  and  many  of  the  parents  and  friends  of  the 
children  formed  part  of  the  happy  band,  and  they 
were  determined  to  make  it  a  gala-day  for  their  inno- 
cent young  charges.  The  children  numbered  seven  hun- 
dred, and  ten  cars  had  been  chartered  to  bear  them  to 
their  destination.  Smiles  played  on  every  countenance; 
young  hearts  beat  high  with  expectation  of  fun  and 
frolic  and  freedom  from  restraint  for  one  day,  at  least. 
And  older  hearts,  hearts  chastened  by  the  cares  and 
strife  of  busy  life,  were  scarcely  less  jubilant,  for  theirs 
was  to  be  the  pleasing  task  of  contributing  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  little  ones.  But,  alas  !  a  sudden  check,  a 
fearful  silencing  of  innocent  mirth  and  gleeful  prattle  ! 
As  they  neared  their  destination,  shortly  after  six 
o'clock,  an  appalling  accident  occurred.  The  excursion- 
train  ran  into  another  coming  from  an  opposite  direc- 
tion, and  that  with  such  force  as  to  dash  both  locomo- 
tives to  pieces.  The  cars  caught  fire.  Sixty-four  killed, 
among  them  the  lamented  Father  Sheridan,  and  seventy- 
nine  wounded  were  dragged  from  the  burning  debris. 
Consternation  seized  upon  the  community  at  large;  sor- 
row clouded  once  happy  firesides.  The  lamentations  of 
grief-stricken  relatives  and  friends  can  better  be  imagined 
than  expressed.  Bishop  Neumann  was  absent  from 
the  city  at  the  time,  administering  the  Sacrament  of 
Confirmation  in  distant  quarters  of  his  diocese.  No 
sooner  was  he  informed  of  the  dire  catastrophe  than  he 


Bishop  Neumanns  Pastoral  Charge.     339 

returned  in  haste  to  Philadelphia,  to  offer  assistance  and 
consolation  to  his  bereaved  flock.  He  visited  the 
wounded  in  the  hospitals,  tenderly  exhorting  them  to 
patience  and  resignation,  instructing  them  how  to  unite 
their  sufferings  with  those  of  the  Man-God  in  atonement 
for  sin  and  in  return  for  His  infinite  love  toward  us. 
He  consoled  the  afflicted  parents  and  relatives  by  his 
paternal  sympathy,  sweetly  suggesting  powerful  motives 
for  resignation  to  the  Divine  Will.  His  affectionate 
heart  bled  at  the  thought  of  the  sorrowful  ending  of 
that  long-expected,  long- to-be-remembered  lyth  of  July. 

It  is  needless  for  us  to  say  what  every  reader  may 
glean  from  the  foregoing  pages,  that  the  saintly  Bishop 
Neumann  lived  entirely  for  his  diocese.  When  at  home, 
the  following  was  the  order  of  his  day:  At  five  o'clock 
he  made  meditation  in  his  own  room,  and  at  the  half- 
hour  repaired  to  his  chapel,  to  which  part  of  the  first 
floor  of  the  episcopal  residence  was  devoted.  There,  at 
six,  he  celebrated  Mass  served  by  two  of  the  seminari- 
ans. During  the  Mass  which  followed  he  made  his 
thanksgiving,  then  heard  confessions,  recited  the  Divine 
Office,  and  partook  of  his  frugal  breakfast.  The  whole 
day  after  this,  often  till  late  at  night,  was  given  up  to 
the  business  of  his  diocese  and  to  visits  from  both 
clergy  and  laity.  Nor  was  this  all:  the  hours  of  rest 
were  often  broken  in  upon,  in  order  to  attend  to  his 
correspondence  and  perform  his  accustomed  devotions. 

Toward  the  close  of  1853  he  wrote  to  Rev.  Father 
Holba,  one  of  his  fellow-students: 

"  My  present  position  is  indeed  laborious,  as  I  have 
no  one  to  help  me;  but  such  is  the  case  with  all 
Bishops  in  America.  God  will  assist  me,  since  He  be- 
stows so  many  blessings  on  the  Church  in  this  country. 
This  confidence  helps  me  to  bear  my  trials,  and  even 
makes  them  a  source  of  joy  to  me,  as  they  contribute  to 
His  greater  honor  and  glory." 

When    occupied   with    the   visitation   of   his    diocese 


340  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

the  days  were  too  short  for  his  zeal,  for  he  was  then 
Bishop,  pastor,  missionary,  all  at  the  same  time.  He 
preached  daily  at  stated  hours,  gave  familiar  instruc- 
tions, and  heard  confessions  from  early  in  the  morning 
till  late  at  night.  In  the  "  Lives  of  the  Deceased 
Bishops"  we  read:  "No  priest  spent  more  time  in  the 
confessional  than  Bishop  Neumann."  In  his  solicitude 
for  every  member  of  his  flock,  he  learned  the  Irish 
language,  as  there  were  many  of  that  nationality  un- 
able to  make  their  confession  in  English,  and  even 
Irish  priests  were  not  familiar  with  their  native  tongue. 
There  is  a  pleasing  little  incident  connected  with  the 
above.  A  good  old  Irishwoman  had  vainly  sought  for 
one  to  hear  her  confession  in  her  own  language;  but 
again  and  again  was  she  dismissed  with  the  discourag- 
ing information  that  the  priest  did  not  understand 
Irish.  At  last  Divine  Providence  led  the  good  old 
woman  to  Bishop  Neumann.  He  received  her  with  his 
accustomed  kindness  and,  to  her  intense  satisfaction, 
heard  her  confession  in  her  own  dear  tongue.  "  Thanks 
be  to  God  !"  cried  she,  as  she  wended  her  way  home- 
ward, "  thanks  be  to  God!  We  now  have  an  Irish  Bishop" 
Bishop  Neumann  claimed  no  distinctions;  the  crosier 
and  mitre  made  no  change  in  him.  Simple  and  humble, 
he  never  dictated;  and  when  making  his  visitation, 
his  Mass  was  always  celebrated  at  the  hour  appointed 
by  the  pastor  of  whatever  church  he  might  happen  to 
be  at.  When  administering  Confirmation,  he  usually 
addressed  his  audience  on  the  means  to  preserve  and  in- 
crease the  grace  then  received.  His  great  anxiety  was  that 
the  candidates  for  this  Sacrament  of  the  strong  should  be 
well  instructed  and  sufficiently  prepared  for  its  worthy 
reception.  On  the  eve  of  the  day  appointed  for  its 
administration  he  generally  gave  instructions  himself, 
and  if  he  found  the  candidates  ignorant  of  what  they 
ought  to  know,  he  postponed  the  ceremony.  In  such 
cases  he  would  not  hesitate  to  employ  several  days  in  giv- 


Bishop  Neumanns  Pastoral  Charge.     341 

ing  instructions,  at  which  he  desired  the  pastor  to  attend. 
The  people  everywhere  showed  the  greatest  confidence 
in  their  Bishop.  They  approached  him  without  con- 
straint, and  communicated  to  him  their  wishes  and  their 
sorrows.  The  pastors  of  the  different  stations  usually 
accompanied  him  to  the  next  on  his  route,  and  faithfully 
seconded  him  in  his  efforts  for  the  welfare  of  his  flock. 


342  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The   Establishment  of  Catholic   Schools   in   the 
Diocese  of  Philadelphia. 

BISHOP  NEUMANN'S  first  care  on  taking  posses- 
sion of  his  see  was  to  erect  Catholic  schools  in 
every  parish.  Even  previously  to  their  Bishop's  arrival, 
the  Catholic  community  of  Philadelphia  were  aware  that 
their  new  Bishop  directed  special  attention  to  the  pro- 
motion of  Catholic  education.  All  eagerly  awaited  his 
first  Pastoral  Letter,  and  they  were  not  disappointed. 
The  Bishop  clearly  expressed  his  sentiments.  "Our 
Catholic  youth,"  he  said,  "can  be  saved  only  by  Catholic 
schools:"  which  words  were  embodied  also  in  his  first  ser- 
mon after  his  installation.  A  reverend  gentleman  pres- 
ent says:  "The  Bishop's  sermon  respecting  St.  Joseph 
clearly  unfolded  to  his  hearers  his  views  on  Catholic 
education.  He  openly  declared  his  firm  resolution,  with 
God's  help,  to  begin  and  carry  out  that  work  of  vital  im- 
portance, the  establishment  of  Catholic  schools.  Per- 
suasively and  emphatically  he  exhorted  parents  to  give 
their  children  Catholic  training,  to  enforce  their  attend- 
ance at  Mass  and  the  other  services  of  religion,  to  edu- 
cate them  at  home  both  by  word  and  example,  but 
above  all  to  send  them  to  schools  in  which  they  would 
be  taught  under  the  eye  of  the  Church. 

"These  words  are  for  us  a  sign,"  continues  the  same 
reverend  gentleman,  "that  the  day  is  not  far  distant 
when  in  Philadelphia  there  will  be  no  church  without 
its  school  in  which  the  children  of  the  parish  may  re- 
ceive a  Christian  education." 

After  mature  reflection  upon  the  means  suited  to  the 


Catholic  Schools  in  Philadelphia.        343 

end  in  view,  the  Bishop  at  once  set  to  work.  On  April 
28,  1852,  he  invited  the  pastors  of  the  various  congrega- 
tions and  several  prominent  members  of  the  laity  to 
assemble  at  the  episcopal  residence  for  a  conference 
touching  the  interests  of  the  question  in  hand.  He 
opened  the  meeting  himself  with  an  animated  discourse 
explanatory  of  its  object.  He  laid  down  as  his  unshaken 
conviction  that  for  Catholic  children  Catholic  schools 
are  an  absolute  necessity  in  order  to  educate  them  in  the 
faith,  form  them  into  good  and  useful  members  of  the 
Church  and  of  society,  and  secure  their  eternal  salva- 
tion. The  Bishop's  sentiments  were  heartily  approved 
by  the  assembly,  several  of  whom,  both  priests  and  lay- 
men, arose  and  expressed  their  concurrence  in  his  views. 
All  agreed  as  to  the  indispensability  of  Catholic  schools, 
and  declared  that  no  sacrifice  could  be  too  great  for  the 
furtherance  of  the  Bishop's  designs.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  consult  on  the  best  means  to  use,  and  the 
secretary  was  directed  to  notify  all  absent  pastors  of  the 
resolutions  adopted  and  invite  them  to  the  next  meet- 
ing. 

This  was  held  a  few  days  later,  May  5th,  and,  to  the 
Bishop's  satisfaction,  it  was  a  full  one.  The  resolutions 
drawn  up  by  the  committee  were  read  and  unanimously 
adopted;  a  central  "  Committee  for  the  Education  of 
Catholic  Youth"  was  appointed.  It  consisted  of  the 
reverend  pastors  of  the  different  congregations  and  two 
of  the  laity  from  each.  The  Bishop,  as  president,  was  to 
give  his  sanction  to  all  resolutions. 

The  business  of  this  committee  was  twofold:  first,  to 
deliberate  upon  some  practical  method  of  instruction 
without,  however,  interfering  with  the  finances  of  the 
different  schools,  the  appointment  of  teachers,  or  the  in- 
troduction of  text-books,  etc.;  secondly,  by  the  collec- 
tion of  monthly  contributions  it  was  likewise  to  assist 
in  the  maintenance  of  such  schools  as  might  be  unable 
to  support  themselves. 


344  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

These  meetings  were  held  every  month  at  the  Bishop's 
residence,  and  the  proceedings  forwarded  to  every  priest 
in  the  diocese.  The  Bishop,  as  president,  was  never  ab- 
sent from  his  post,  unless  prevented  by  his  pastoral  visi- 
tation or  other  pressing  affairs.  In  such  cases  he  was 
careful  to  notify  his  Vicar-general  to  preside  as  vice- 
president.  Should  it  happen  that  Bishops  or  prominent 
laymen  from  other  dioceses  were  staying  in  the  city  at 
the  time,  Bishop  Neumann  never  failed  to  solicit  their 
presence.  He  used  to  introduce  them  himself  to  the 
gentlemen  assembled,  and  invite  them  to  say  a  few  words 
in  favor  of  the  good  cause.  In  this  way  he  sought  to 
win  friends  and  supporters  for  the  noble  enterprise  of 
Catholic  education. 

The  Bishop  lent  his  encouragement  not  only  in  a  gen- 
eral way,  but  he  also  embraced  every  opportunity  of 
manifesting  his  interest  even  in  minor  details.  The 
parochial  schools  claimed  his  special  attention.  On  his 
visitations  he  would  gather  round  him  the  children  of 
the  various  parishes,  to  give  them  instructions;  and  if 
there  was  a  school  attached  to  the  church,  he  always 
visited  it  to  encourage  both  pastors  and  parents,  as  well 
as  the  little  ones  themselves,  to  renewed  exertions.  He 
often  attended  the  public  examinations  and  questioned 
the  pupils  himself.  His  presence  drew  thither  their  par- 
ents and  friends,  the  halls  were  filled,  and  all  were  ani- 
mated with  new  zeal.  That  the  reader  may  form  some 
idea  of  Bishop  Neumann's  fatherly  deportment  on  such 
occasions,  we  shall  here  cite  one  from  among  the  many 
such  examinations  which  he  thus  honored.  After  ad- 
dressing the  children  a  few  kind  words  calculated  to 
inspire  confidence,  they  were  questioned  in  catechism 
and  the  other  branches  usually  taught.  The  children, 
encouraged  by  the  gentleness  and  the  manifest  interest 
of  their  good  Bishop,  answered  well  and  satisfactorily; 
the  most  proficient  received  premiums  from  his  hand, 
after  which  he  arose  and  pronounced  an  impressive  dis- 


Catholic  Schools  in  Philadelphia.        345 

course  which  embraced  the  parents'  even  more  than  the 
children's  instruction.  At  its  conclusion,  one  of  the  lads 
stepped  forward  and,  in  the  name  of  his  companions,  pre- 
sented the  Bishop  a  beautiful  crucifix,  begging  him  to 
accept  it  as  a  token  of  their  filial  reverence,  and  to  pray 
for  them  as  often  as  his  glance  rested  upon  it.  The  good 
Bishop  was  visibly  touched  by  this  innocent  expression 
of  respect;  he  graciously  accepted  it  as  a  valued  offering 
from  the  little  ones  of  his  flock.  In  making  his  acknowl- 
edgments, he  expatiated  upon  the  pleasure  he  felt  at 
receiving  the  image  of  our  Lord  from  the  hands  of  his 
children.  He  expressed  the  hope  that  throughout  their 
whole  life  they  would  remain  faithful  to  the  wholesome 
Catholic  instruction  received  at  school,  and  persevere  till 
death  in  the  practice  of  the  lessons  there  inculcated; 
thus  they  would  become  useful  members  of  society, 
worthy  children  of  the  Church,  and  insure  their  claims 
to  the  kingdom  of  eternal  life.  He  remarked  that  he 
had  heard  a  very  good  account  of  their  school,  but 
now  he  was  convinced  of  its  truth,  having  seen  for  him- 
self the  progress  it  had  made  under  its  worthy  pastor 
and  efficient  teachers.  All  bore  evidence  to  the  solid 
Christian  education  there  bestowed.  The  pupils  had 
given  satisfaction  in  catechism,  in  vocal  and  instrumental 
music,  in  declamation,  etc.  He  saw  that  their  mind  was 
being  cultivated,  their  memory  exercised,  and  he  doubted 
not  that  the  culture  of  the  precious  soul  far  surpassed 
that  of  which  external  signs  had  just  been  given.  Turn- 
ing to  the  parents,  the  Bishop  once  more  exhorted  them 
to  watch  over  their  children,  to  follow  up  the  instruc- 
tions received  at  school  by  setting  their  little  ones  a  good 
example  in  the  home-circle.  In  conclusion,  he  again 
thanked  the  children  for  their  beautiful  present,  and 
assured  them  that  he  would  not  only  think  of  them  when 
he  looked  upon  it,  but  that  he  would  remember  them 
also  at  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass. 

The   schools    increased    year   by   year.      In    the   last 


346  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

months  of  his  life  the  holy  Bishop  could  say:  "Almighty 
God  has  so  wonderfully  blessed  the  work  of  Catholic 
education  that  nearly  every  church  of  my  diocese  has 
now  its  school."  Emulation  arose  among  the  teachers 
from  the  well-known  fact  of  the  Bishop's  deriving  un- 
bounded pleasure  from  his  visits  to  the  parochial  schools. 
Such  emulation  was  beneficial  and  led  to  gratifying 
results  on  all  sides. 

The  falling  off  in  attendance  at  the  public  schools  of 
the  city  became  remarkable ;  vacant  seats  might  be 
counted  by  thousands.  The  circumstance  was  so  notice- 
able as  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  press.  The  follow- 
ing lines  appeared  in  one  of  the  dailies:  "We  regret  to 
see  that  the  most  esteemed  denomination  in  this  city 
has  withdrawn  its  confidence  from  the  public  schools. 
Serious  defects  must  exist  in  our  school-system;  authori- 
ties should  therefore  investigate  and  improve  the  condi- 
tion of  the  said  schools." 

We  must  not  conclude,  however,  that  Bishop  Neu- 
mann encountered  no  difficulties  in  his  work  for  Catholic 
education;  to  this  undertaking,  as  to  every  other  destined 
to  rob  hell  of  its  prey,  obstacles  were  not  wanting.  But 
Bishop  Neumann's  was  a  nature  that  knew  how  to  pray 
and  bide  God's  own  time.  When  apparently  insurmount- 
able barriers  arose  between  him  and  the  accomplishment 
of  his  laudable  projects,  he  could  calmly  lay  the  latter 
aside  and  wait  for  more  propitious  days.  If  dread  of  labor 
and  expense  stood  in  the  way,  his  wonderful  prudence 
and  energy  of  will  soon  discovered  some  means  to  over- 
come both.  He  had  repeatedly  enjoined  upon  the  pastor 
of  one  of  the  largest  parishes  in*  Philadelphia  the  duty 
of  erecting  a  school,  but  his  admonitions  fell  unheeded. 
The  invariable  reply  was:  "It  is  impossible  just  now." 
At  last  the  Bishop  said  to  the  dilatory  clergyman  :  "  If 
it  is  indeed  impossible  for  you  to  establish  a  school,  I 
shall  have  to  look  for  another  to  fill  your  place.  He 
will  perhaps  find  it  possible  to  secure  a  Christian  edu- 


Catholic  Schools  in  Philadelphia.        347 

cation  for  the  children  of  that  parish."  This  was 
enough.  The  reverend  gentleman  promised  to  fulfil 
the  Bishop's  injunctions.  He  set  to  work,  built  a 
school-house,  and  opened  with  a  thousand  children  the 
very  first  day. 

"  The  parochial  schools  of  the  whole  diocese  of  Phila- 
delphia, and  especially  of  the  city  itself,"  says  Clarke, 
"  increased  wonderfully  in  numbers,  in  attendance,  and 
in  efficiency  during  his  administration,  and  became  a 
crowning  glory  of  his  work.  The  boys'  schools  he  con- 
fided to  the  Christian  Brothers,  and  those  of  the  girls  to 
the  Sisters  of  St.  Joseph,  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  the  Sis- 
ters of  Notre  Dame,  and  other  female  Orders.  There 
were  two  parochial  schools  in  Philadelphia  when  he  went 
there  in  1852;  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  1860,  he  had 
increased  the  number  to  nearly  one  hundred." 

Besides  the  parochial  schools,  Bishop  Neumann  de- 
voted his  attention  to  the  industrial  schools  already  in 
existence,  to  the  colleges  and  academies  established  by 
various  religious  Orders,  and  he  encouraged  the  estab- 
lishment of  others.  In  1852  there  were  three  Catholic  col- 
leges in  the  diocese:  one  at  Villanova,  under  the  charge 
of  the  Augustinians;  St.  Joseph's  College,  Philadelphia; 
and  St.  Mary's  College,  at  Wilmington.  For  young 
ladies  there  were  also  three  institutions:  one  in  Phila- 
delphia in  connection  with  the  convent  of  the  Visitation; 
the  two  others  at  Holmesburg  and  McSherrytown,  con- 
ducted by  the  Ladies  of  the  Sacred  Heart. 

Under  the  Bishop's  fostering  care  there  were  estab- 
lished: St.  Joseph's  College,  in  Susquehanna  County; 
three  academies  for  girls,  one  in  the  above-mentioned 
county,  the  others  in  Philadelphia  and  Reading;  an 
Industrial  School  for  girls,  directed  by  the  Sisters  of  the 
Holy  Cross;  St.  Vincent's  Home,  for  orphans  under  four 
years  of  age,  in  the  Cathedral  parish  ;  St.  Vincent's 
Orphan  Asylum,  for  the  German  parishes  of  the  city, 
presided  over  by  the  Sisters  of  Notre  Dame;  and  a 


348  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

German  hospital,  under  the  care  of  the  Franciscan 
Sisters. 

Bishop  Neumann  did  not  neglect  the  higher  educa- 
tional establishments.  Himself  a  lover  of  the  sciences, 
he  endeavored  by  all  means  in  his  power  to  promote  in 
these  institutions  a  great  zeal  for  study.  He  visited  them 
often,  showed  his  deep  interest  in  every  branch  of  science, 
and  awoke  in  the  pupils  a  thirst  for  knowledge.  They 
loved  to  propose  their  scientific  difficulties  to  him  and 
hear  his  solution  of  them.  One  day  he  entered  a  certain 
institution  and  found  teacher  and  pupils  in  quite  an 
animated  discussion  over  what  they  thought  a  discre- 
pancy between  their  text-book  of  astronomy  and  their 
own  telescopic  observations.  They  turned  eagerly  to 
the  Bishop.  He  soon  discovered  the  cause  of  the  ap- 
parent discrepancy,  and  smilingly  explained  away  the 
difficulty. 

The  pupils  of  another  institution  showed  him  a  plant 
whose  order  and  species  they  were  unable  to  find  in  their 
text-book  of  botany.  He  examined  the  plant  attentively 
for  a  few  moments,  and  then  mentioned  its  name  and 
order,  as  well  as  the  work  in  which  they  might  find  it 
described. 

The  orphans  were  the  dear  objects  of  his  solicitude; 
he  was  to  them  a  true  father.  A  Sister  of  a  religious 
community  says :  "  When  Bishop  Neumann  visited  an 
orphan  asylum  he  appeared  the  very  counterpart  of  our 
Lord,  the  Friend  of  children.  He  went  among  them 
like  a  tender,  loving  father.  He  never  came  with  empty 
pockets.  He  always  brought  some  presents,  such  as 
books,  pictures,  toys,  etc.  The  little  ones  would  gather 
round  him  and  listen  attentively  whilst  he  told  them  of 
God's  love  for  them,  or  explained  the  different  parts  of 
a  flower,  or  some  other  wonder  of  nature  suited  to  their 
young  mind.  He  knew  how  to  use  plain  and  simple  lan- 
guage, such  as  would  chain  the  attention  of  even  the 
most  frolicsome.  He  led  them,  as  far  as  their  capacity 


Catholic  Schools  in  Philadelphia.        349 

permitted,  from  the  meditation  of  created  things  up  to 
the  contemplation  of  God  Himself.  Their  multiplied 
questions  never  annoyed  him." 

He  lost  no  opportunity  to  rescue  a  child  from  moral 
ruin.  We  know  his  predilection  for  the  hardest  work 
in  the  sacred  ministry.  His  elevation  to  the  episcopal 
dignity  made  no  change  in  this  respect,  and  he  still 
claimed  as  his  own  the  attending  to  sick-calls  at  night. 
In  the  exercise  of  this  function  he  often  found  a  dying 
parent  to  whom  the  thought  of  leaving  a  helpless  orphan 
rendered  the  bitterness  of  death  doubly  bitter.  In  such 
cases  his  kind  heart  grew  glad  at  being  able  to  soothe 
and  resign  the  dying  soul  to  the  holy  will  of  God  with 
the  promise  that  he  would  himself  take  charge  of  the 
orphaned  child.  One  day  he  made  his  appearance  at  the 
asylum  holding  by  the  hand  a  little  tot  of  three  years, 
for  whom  he  sought  admittance.  His  kindness  so  won 
the  little  creature's  heart  that  ever  after  it  called  him 
by  the  endearing  name  of  father. 

Another  work  in  which  Bishop  Neumann's  gentle  heart 
delighted  was  the  visiting  of  hospitals.  It  was  his  joy 
to  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  sick  by  loving 
words  and  tender  sympathy.  A  certain  religious  says: 
"  When  the  Bishop  visited  the  sick  he  went  from  bed  to 
bed,  lingering  ateach  as  if  loath  to  leave.  He  had  words 
of  comfort  and  encouragement  for  every  poor  sufferer 
of  whatever  age,  rank,  or  faith.  He  used  earnestly  to 
remind  the  Sisters  in  charge  to  look  upon  the  sick  as 
the  suffering  members  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  as  such  to 
bestow  upon  them  conscientious  care. 


350  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  V. 
Bishop  Neumann's  Solicitude  for  his  Clergy. 

WHEN  Bishop  Neumann  took  possession  of  his  see 
in  1852,  he  found  in  it  about  one  hundred  priests 
engaged  in  the  sacred  ministry  a  force  wholly  insuffi- 
cient for  so  large  a  diocese,  and  for  the  ever-increasing 
number  of  Catholics.  He  was  therefore  obliged  to 
turn  his  attention  to  the  supplying  of  this  want  as 
promptly  as  possible,  by  appointing  zealous  young  priests 
to  vacancies.  The  seminary  of  the  diocese  counted  only 
forty  students  of  philosophy  and  theology,  among  whom 
were  very  few  Germans,  notwithstanding  the  special 
need  for  priests  of  that  nationality.  In  his  distress  the 
Bishop  applied  to  his  old  friends,  the  Superior  of  the 
seminary  in  Prague,  and  to  Rev.  Hermann  Dichtl,  re- 
questing them  to  send  him  some  worthy  priests  or  theo- 
logical students  who  had  finished  their  studies.  In  May, 
1853,  he  was  able  to  report  as  follows  to  Father  Dichtl: 
"I  thank  God  for  His  rich  blessings  upon  your  efforts 

in  behalf  of  this  diocese.     Father  R is  laboring  with 

great  fervor  and  self-devotedness  at  his  mission  among 
the  miners.  He  will  soon  finish  his  little  log-church. 

Mr.  W is  still  at  the  seminary.     He  will  be  ordained 

deacon  to-morrow.  As  he  has  finished  his  studies  and 
his  conduct  is  exemplary,  I  shall  ordain  him  this  summer. 
I  hope  our  poor  Germans  may  have  reason  to  thank  God 
for  his  arrival  in  America.  Of  those  mentioned  in  your 
letter,  none  have,  as  yet,  arrived.  I  am  anxiously  expect- 
ing them,  for  scarcely  a  week  passes  that  I  am  not  asked 
by  petitions  and  deputations  to  send  a  German  priest 
some  place  or  other.  So  far,  I  have  not  been  able  to  do 


His  Solicitude  for  his  Clergy.  351 

anything  more  than  exhort  such  applicants  to  pray 
God  to  send  us  good  priests,  and  then  to  wait  in 
patience." 

Bishop  Neumann  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  impress- 
ing on  his  clergy  the  necessity  of  devoting  special  atten- 
tion to  boys  who  manifested  a  vocation  for  the  priest- 
hood. He  exhorted  them  to  watch  over  their  conduct; 
to  instruct  them  how  to  lead  a  pious  life;  and,  in  case 
there  was  good  reason  to  believe  that  they  would  eventu- 
ally enter  the  ranks  of  the  ministry,  to  present  them  to 
him  as  candidates.  He  sent  numbers  of  such  boys  to 
college  at  his  own  expense,  that  they  might  prepare  for 
the  higher  studies.  From  the  very  beginning  of  his 
administration,  he  entertained  a  lively  desire  of  estab- 
lishing his  own  preparatory  seminary  as  a  safeguard  for 
youth  and  a  means  of  implanting  in  their  tender  minds 
the  virtues  necessary  for  the  sacerdotal  state.  Seven 
years  were,  however,  to  roll  by  ere  he  was  to  see  the 
fulfilment  of  his  judicious  plan.  It  was  not  till  the  year 
1859  that  he  rejoiced  in  its  realization.  A  Pastoral 
Letter  upon  this  subject  gives  us  his  views  respecting 
the  training  of  candidates  for  the  priesthood.  It  runs  as 
follows: 

"  To  the  Clergy  and  the  Laity  of  the  Diocese  of  Philadelphia  : 

"  Grace  be  to  you,  and  peace,  from  God  our  Father, 
and  from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"The  great  and  happy  progress  made  by  our  holy  re- 
ligion in  the  United  States  fills  us  with  joy,  and  we  offer 
continual  thanksgivings  to  the  Almighty  for  the  graces 
which  He  so  abundantly  pours  out  upon  our  country. 

"The  trials  of  the  young  Church  of  this  country  were, 
in  the  beginning,  most  severe,  and  the  first  laborers  were 
encompassed  by  poverty  and  difficulties  of  every  kind; 
but  they  confided  in  God  and,  through  Him,  obtained 
the  grace  of  laboring  perseveringly  in  the  vineyard  of 
.the  widely  scattered  faithful. 


352  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

"  Even  at  the  beginning  of  this  century  our  Church  re- 
ceived notable  increase  from  all  parts  of  Europe;  and 
still  every  month  brings  thousands  to  our  shores.  In  a 
short  time  the  number  of  Catholics  has  grown  beyond 
computation. 

"We  see  numbers  of  churches  filled  with  worshippers, 
and  hundreds  of  children  flocking  to  our  spacious 
parochial  schools.  Every  year  witnesses  the  opening  of 
new  colleges  and  academies,  the  erection  of  asylums, 
hospitals,  and  convents.  The  poor  wanderer,  far  away 
from  the  home  and  scenes  of  childhood,  no  longer  feels 
himself  a  stranger  in  a  strange  land;  for  he  beholds  on  all 
sides  majestic  temples  before  whose  altars  he  can  wor- 
ship his  God.  Yet  whilst  religion  is  thus  making  rapid 
strides,  there  is  a  great  want  felt,  that  of  laborers  in  the 
vineyard — a  want  which  grows  more  urgent  day  by  day. 

"  It  is,  indeed,  true  that  during  the  last  fifty  years  many 
priests  have  come  to  our  shores  from  Europe.  They 
had  heard  of  our  spiritual  distress;  and,  actuated  by 
holy  zeal  and  in  imitation  of  the  Apostles,  they  left 
home  and  friends  to  labor  in  God's  house  here  in  Amer- 
ica. Many  young  men,  also,  not  yet  in  orders,  but  who 
had  chosen  the  Lord  for  their  inheritance,  found  their 
way  to  our  land,  and  offered  themselves  to  the  Bishops; 
being  accepted,  they  entered  our  seminaries,  completed 
their  studies,  and  were  admitted  to  the  ranks  of  the 
priesthood.  In  this  way  our  prelates  have  been  able  to 
supply  the  most  important  missions  with  good  priests. 
Since  the  beginning  of  the  mission-work  in  our  diocese, 
one  hundred  and  seventy  priests  have  been  engaged  in 
it.  Of  these,  forty-seven  were  native-born,  and  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty-seven  finished  their  studies  in  our  diocesan 
seminary.  But  we  cannot  depend  entirely  on  such 
sources.  During  the  last  two  or  three  years  applica- 
tions have  been  less  numerous.  We  shall  therefore 
soon  sensibly  experience  the  want  of  priests  ;  our  work 
will  not  advance.  The  clergy  are  subject  to  the  same 


His  Solicitude  for  his  Clergy.          353 

evils  as  their  fellow-mortals :  sickness  and  death  seek 
victims  among  them. 

"But  God,  who  in  His  infinite  wisdom  orders  all 
things  well,  will  provide  for  our  wants.  He  already 
points  out  the  way  by  which  we  can  supply  them,  viz., 
by  the  co-operation  of  those  whose  duty  it  is  to  instruct 
you  and  to  sanctify  your  souls.  The  way  shown  us  by 
Divine  Providence  is  the  education  of  our  young  men  to 
the  priesthood  in  institutions  established  for  this  pur- 
pose. Through  them  we  shall  have  constant  and  abun- 
dant sources  from  which  to  procure  good  and  able  minis- 
ters for  our  holy  Church.  The  lively  faith  manifesting 
itself  in  so  many  Catholic  families,  the  grandeur  and 
solemnity  of  our  services,  the  holy  influence  of  religion 
on  our  parochial  schools,  must  naturally  inspire  numbers 
of  our  young  men  with  a  love  for  the  sacerdotal  state 
Even  during  these  last  years  we  have  perceived  in  our 
youth  a  growing  inclination  for  the  priesthood.  Year 
after  year,  applications  are  made  to  us  from  young  men 
of  our  diocese  to  be  admitted  into  different  educational 
establishments  with  a  view  to  the  clerical  state.  Not 
many  years  ago  no  fewer  than  twenty  were  received  by 
us  at  one  time.  They  have  now  been  studying  for  three 
years  at  the  preparatory  seminary  of  St.  Charles,  Mary- 
land. It  gives  us  great  pleasure  to  be  able  to  state  that 
to  their  progress  in  learning,  as  well  as  to  their  good 
conduct,  we  can  testify. 

"This  is  also  a  manifest  sign  that  Almighty  God  desires 
that  we  should  carry  out  without  delay  the  decree  of 
the  Council  of  Trent,  by  establishing  a  preparatory 
seminary  within  the  precincts  of  our  own  diocese.  This 
institution,  in  connection  with  our  theological  seminary 
of  St.  Charles  Borromeo,  will,  with  the  blessing  of  God 
and  our  own  co-operation,  supply  us  with  pious  and 
learned  priests  to  aid  in  the  fulfilment  of  our  pastoral 
duties. 

"The  holy  Council  of  Trent  (Sess.  23,  chap.  18)  issued 


354  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

the  following  decree:  'As  young  men,  if  not  rightly 
directed,  give  themselves  up  to  the  pleasures  of  the 
world  and,  if  not  trained  from  their  tender  age  in  piety 
and  virtue,  will  never  submit  to  ecclesiastical  discipline, 
the  holy  synod  decrees  that  all  cathedral  churches  are 
obliged  according  to  their  ability  to  support  gratuitously 
a  certain  number  of  young  men  of  the  city  and  diocese, 
to  train  them  religiously,  and  to  form  them  in  ecclesias- 
tical discipline.  The  youth  who  wish  to  be  received 
for  this  end  must  not  be  under  twelve  years  of  age;  they 
must  have  been  born  of  lawful  wedlock;  must  be  able  to 
read  and  write;  and  their  moral  character  must  justify 
the  hope  that  they  will  devote  themselves  to  the  service 
of  the  Church.  Especially  should  poor  children  be 
chosen  for  gratuitous  education.  The  rich  are  not  to  be 
excluded,  though  they  should  be  supported  at  their  own 
expense.  The  Bishop  should  divide  these  young  men 
into  as  many  classes  as  appears  advisable  with  respect  to 
age,  number,  and  intelligence  in  ecclesiastical  affairs. 
From  these  he  chooses  those  who  are  fit,  and  again  selects 
others  to  take  their  place,  so  that  the  institution  will 
continually  furnish  him  servants  for  the  Church.  In 
order  that  young  persons  may  be  better  kept  in  ecclesias- 
tical discipline,  they  should  wear  the  clerical  dress;  they 
should  learn  grammar,  church-music,  and  other  useful 
sciences;  they  should,  moreover,  be  instructed  in  Holy 
Scripture,  and  in  the  homilies  of  the  saints.' 

"  The  establishment  of  these  diocesan  seminaries  ac- 
cording to  the  plan  of  the  Fathers  of  the  Council  of 
Trent  was  deemed  necessary  for  the  restoration  of 
church-discipline.  We  doubt  not  for  a  moment  that 
this  plan  will  be  carried  out  in  our  diocese  also,  and 
be  accompanied  by  the  most  gratifying  results.  The 
guardianship  of  parents  is  certainly  the  best  nursery  for 
good  Christians;  the  blessing  of  the  marriage-sacrament, 
even  under  less  favorable  circumstances,  produces  more 
powerful,  more  efficacious  results  under  the  parental  roof 


His  Solicitude  for  his  Clergy.          355 

than  the  most  brilliant  scientific  educational  system  in  a 
foreign  institution,  however  richly  the  latter  may  be 
endowed,  however  distinguished  by  the  learning  and 
talents  of  its  professors.  But  if  Christian  youth  are  to 
be  educated  for  the  service  of  the  Almighty,  all  contact 
with  what  would  withdraw  them  from  their  holy  voca- 
tion must  be  avoided.  Parental  influence  occasionally 
makes  an  undue  impression  on  the  mind  of  youth,  some- 
times turns  their  thoughts  away  from  the  things  of  God. 

"It  is  true,  the  hearts  of  these  young  men  are  still 
innocent,  yet  they  are  susceptible  of  good  and  bad. 
Their  natural  waywardness,  their  want  of  experience, 
and  the  unfortunate  striving  after  the  imitation  of  what- 
ever they  foolishly  admire  in  others  can  very  easily 
tarnish  the  purity  of  the  soul,  sadden  the  Holy  Ghost, 
and  deprive  them  of  the  grace  of  their  vocation.  It  is  a 
great  boon  which  the  Church  grants  to  her  future  ser- 
vant if  she  opportunely  snatches  him  from  the  noxious 
influences  of  the  world,  shelters  and  fosters  him  in  the 
salutary  atmosphere  of  her  secluded  sanctuary,  till  his 
character  has  developed  and  he  has  grown  up  in  the 
wisdom  of  God. 

"  A  period  of  ten  or  twelve  years  devoted  to  scientific 
branches,  especially  ecclesiastical  science,  qualifies  him 
to  instruct  the  ignorant,  strengthen  the  doubting  and 
wavering,  guide  the  faithful,  preach  and  defend  fearlessly 
the  truths  of  our  holy  faith. 

"  The  character  of  the  priesthood  elevates  him  to  a 
high  dignity,  even  above  the  angels,  and  to  this  dignity 
must  correspond  his  virtues  that  he  may  be  a  worthy 
servant  of  God,  possessed  of  Christian  holiness  in  so 
eminent  a  degree  as  to  be  able  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
his  high  office  in  a  manner  pleasing  to  God  and  salutary 
to  the  souls  of  men. 

"The  time  which  a  seminarian  spends  at  college  gives 
him  sufficient  opportunity  to  ascend  from  virtue  to 
virtue  until  he  reaches  the  perfection  required  by  the 


356  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Church  of  her  priests.  The  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass, 
meditations  in  common,  prayers  daily  recited  by  all, 
the  good  example  of  fellow-students,  frequent  Holy 
Communion,  and  the  dwelling  under  the  same  roof  with 
our  Lord  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  impose  upon  him 
the  happy  necessity  not  only  of  avoiding  every  wilful 
sin,  but  aid  him  to  prepare  his  heart  for  every 
virtue. 

"We  were  therefore  highly  satisfied  when  informed 
last  spring  that  a  piece  of  land  with  suitable  buildings, 
situated  in  a  healthful  region,  had  been  offered  for 
sale.  Trusting  in  God's  help  and  your  generosity,  we 
bought  it  without  delay,  and  made  the  necessary  im- 
provements for  the  reception  of  young  students.  With 
pleasure  we  announce  for  your  consolation  that  there 
are  now  twenty-six  students  and  four  professors  in  the 
institution. 

"As  this  institution  is  connected  with  our  large  semi- 
nary, we  think  it  advisable  to  recommend  to  you  their 
united  claims.  We  do  not  deem  it  necessary  to  exhort 
you  to  contribute  to  them.  We  know  well  that  our  ap- 
peal will  meet  a  hearty  response,  and  that  every  parish 
priest  will  do  his  best  to  make  these  establishments  suc- 
cessful; neither  do  we  wish  to  change  our  plan  for  raising 
funds.  It  has  proved  itself  effective.  But  we  should  like 
to  see  a  more  general  co-operation  on  the  part  of  the 
faithful;  therefore  we  request  the  reverend  clergy  to  read 
this  Pastoral  from  the  pulpit  on  the  first  Sunday  after 
its  receipt,  and  to  appoint  as  many  of  the  faithful  as  are 
willing  to  gather  subscriptions,  in  order  that  the  semi- 
naries may  be  freed  from  their  heavy  debts. 

"  The  collection  is  to  continue  from  October  until  the 
middle  of  November. 

"  Yet,  dear  brethren,  not  gifts  alone  laid  on  the  altar 
will  secure  for  us  good  priests,  but  humble  prayer  with 
fasting  is  necessary. 

"  Particularly    during    the    ember-days    should    the 


His  Solicitude  for  his  Clergy.          357 

faithful  not  omit  to  pray,  to  receive  Holy  Communion, 
and  to  practise  works  of  self-denial,  in  order  that  the 
Pastor  of  our  soul  may  send  worthy  laborers  into  His 
vineyard,  and  that  we  may  enter  undefiled  into  the 
possession  of  the  inheritance  reserved  for  us  in  heaven, 
"•i*  JOHN  NEPOMUCENE, 

"  Bishop  of  Philadelphia." 
"  PHILADELPHIA,  October  2,  1859, 

"  Feast  of  the  Holy  Rosary. 

As  the  time  approached  for  the  seminaries  to  attain 
the  end  at  which  they  had  been  aiming,  the  greater  be- 
came their  good  Bishop's  zeal  that  they  should  be  worthily 
prepared  for  so  high  a  dignity.  When  at  home,  no  day 
passed  without  his  visiting  the  seminary.  He  used  to 
give  the  theological  students  discourses  on  pastoral 
theology,  into  which  he  knew  how  to  weave  excellent 
remarks  on  moral  theology,  canon  law,  and  church- 
history.  Clarke  says:  "The  seminary  during  Bishop 
Neumann's  administration  attained  a  reputation  such  as 
it  had  never  had  before."  The  Holy  Father  bestowed 
upon  it  the  privilege  of  conferring  the  doctorate. 

The  priests  of  Bishop  Neumann's  diocese  found  in  him 
a  friend  and  father.  If  one  called  at  his  residence,  he 
might  on  admission  walk  up  to  his  room,  knock  at  the 
door,  and  enter  without  previous  announcement.  Once 
in  the  Bishop's  presence,  he  could  freely  and  leisurely 
communicate  to  him  his  business  or  difficulties.  He 
was  heard  with  interest,  and  never  dismissed  without  a 
decision  or  a  word  of  good  advice  or  encouragement,  as 
the  case  might  require.  The  Bishop  was  invariably  kind 
and  affable  to  all  whom  he  met,  and,  like  the  holy 
patriarch  Abraham,  he  delighted  in  the  exercise  of  the 
virtue  of  hospitality.  Apartments  were  always  in  readi- 
ness for  the  reception  of  ecclesiastics  who  might  happen 
to  be  in  the  city  from  a  distance.  Yet  with  all  his 
remarkable  meekness,  Bishop  Neumann  kept  a  vigilant 


358  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

eye  upon  the  conduct  of  his  priests.  With  paternal  love, 
yet  with  truly  apostolic  zeal,  he  conscientiously  saw  to 
the  faithful  fulfilment  of  their  duties,  as  is  sufficiently 
proved  by  the  regulations  of  his  synods.  Among  other 
things,  he  ordained  that  the  clergy  of  his  diocese  should 
wear  the  ecclesiastical  dress  and  avoid  sea-side  resorts. 

For  the  regulation  of  the  temporal  affairs  of  the 
different  parishes,  and  for  the  safeguard  of  the  honor  of 
the  priesthood,  he  made  several  wise  rules  to  be  observed 
in  the  whole  diocese.  In  ten  chapters  of  these  rules,  the 
administration  of  church -property  of  the  parishes  was 
regulated,  and  provision  made  for  difficult  cases  that 
might  arise. 

In  his  anxiety  to  remove  abuses,  Bishop  Neumann 
occasionally  met  opposition;  but  his  calmness,  his  purity 
of  intention,  which  sought  only  the  honor  of  God  and 
the  salvation  of  souls,  usually  effected  his  purpose.  In 
one  of  his  synods  he  spoke  of  the  disadvantages  of  taking 
up  a  forced  collection  at  the  door  of  the  church,  a  practice 
usual  in  some  places,  and  pointed  out  the  fact  that  this 
was  frequently  the  cause  of  many  persons  not  hearing 
Mass.  When  the  reverend  gentlemen  present  were 
asked  to  give  their  opinion  for  or  against  this  practice, 
several  arose  and  warmly  opposed  the  innovation,  as 
they  were  pleased  to  term  it,  which  the  Bishop  wished  to 
introduce.  "  By  cutting  off  these  sure  revenues  for  the 
churches,"  they  said,  "a  great  injury  would  be  done,  and 
whoever  would  abolish  the  custom  would  plainly  show 
that  he  knew  very  little  about  a  certain  class  of 
people,"  etc. 

The  listeners  fully  expected  the  Bishop  to  resent 
authoritatively  the  personal  attacks  made  upon  him,  or 
at  least  give  his  opponents  a  severe  lesson.  But  no:  the 
humble  Bishop  exhibited  no  sign  of  displeasure.  He 
quietly  asked  whether  any  one  else  desired  to  express 
his  opinion  on  the  question.  All  sat  silent,  conscious  of 
the  affront  offered  their  good  prelate  by  the  passionate 


His  Solicitude  for  his  Clergy.  359 

language  just  uttered  in  his  presence.  They  were,  in 
truth,  not  a  little  astonished  at  his  meekness  and  for- 
bearance. At  last,  after  a  few  moments  of  painful  sus- 
pense on  the  part  of  the  clergy  and  of  expectant  waiting 
on  that  of  the  Bishop,  the  latter,  receiving  no  response 
to  his  invitation,  closed  the  meeting  with  these  words: 
"  Gentlemen,  some  of  you  appear  to  differ  on  this  matter, 
and  the  reasons  you  have  urged  for  the  same  I  regard  as 
weak.  I,  too,  have  reasons — very  grave  reasons — for 
my  opinions.  Since  we  do  not  agree,  we  must  allow  the 
Holy  See  to  decide  in  the  matter,  and  submit  to  what- 
ever decision  may  be  given." 

The  synod  was  at  an  end.  The  priests,  as  they  dis- 
persed, spoke  only  of  the  unfortunate  occurrence,  which 
they  very  much  deplored,  whilst  they  admired  their  Bish- 
op's humility.  His  most  zealous  opponent,  deeply  mor- 
tified at  his  own  indiscretion,  gave  expression  to  his 
thoughts  in  the  following  words:  "  We  have,  indeed,  a 
saintly  Bishop." 

We  may  style  Bishop  Neumann's  interest  in  his  clergy 
a  truly  paternal  love,  since  he  saw  to  both  their  spiritual 
and  temporal  well-being.  He  pressed  them  to  apply  to 
him  in  all  their  difficulties,  to  make  known  to  him  all 
their  wants.  If  they  wrote  to  him,  he  answered  promptly; 
he  spared  no  pains  in  his  efforts  to  oblige  them. 

The  annual  spiritual  exercises  he  sometimes  con- 
ducted for  them  himself,  or  chose  one  from  the  religious 
Orders  for  that  purpose.  In  the  former  case,  his  own 
exemplary  observance  of  the  order  of  the  day  conveyed 
to  them  almost  as  much  instruction  and  edification  as 
his  words. 

Long  before  his  elevation  to  the  episcopacy,  Bishop 
Neumann  was  noted  for  the  lively  interest  he  manifested 
in  those  unfortunate  priests  whose  faults  had  incurred 
suspension.  He  earnestly  sought  to  lead  them  back  to 
a  sense  of  their  duty.  If  they  consented  to  enter  upon 
a  few  days'  retreat,  he  aided  them  all  in  his  power,  and 


360  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

when  he  saw  signs  of  thorough  amendment,  he  wrote  to 
their  Bishop  begging  him  to  receive  once  more  the  re- 
pentant clerics.  When  raised  to  the  mitre,  he  devoted 
himself  even  more  zealously  to  this  work,  and  his  pater- 
nal interest  was  all  alive  was  there  question  of  one  of 
his  own  priests.  His  natural  kind-heartedness  was  ever 
ready  to  assert  its  rights  when  he  believed  repentance 
sincere.  Toward  the  close  of  his  life,  however,  grown 
wiser  by  experience,  he  placed  but  little  confidence  in 
those  unfortunates,  that  suspended  in  their  own  dioceses, 
asked  admission  into  his. 

His  respect  and  affection  for  good,  earnest  priests  were 
unbounded.  How  often  were  not  poor  clergymen, 
though  not  having  made  known  their  wants,  been  unex- 
pectedly relieved  by  their  Bishop  with  money,  vestments, 
or  sacred  vessels  !  Even  articles  of  clothing,  received  as 
donations  from  charitable  friends  for  his  own  use,  fre- 
quently found  their  way  to  distressed  ecclesiastics. 


Solicitude  for  the  Religious  of  his  Diocese.  361 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Bishop   Neumann's  Solicitude  for  the  Religious 
of  his  Diocese. 

THE  welfare  of  religious  Orders  was  another  object 
near  to  Bishop  Neumann's  heart.  In  them  he 
took  the  liveliest  interest ;  for  what  concerned  them  he 
was  as  solicitous  as  a  father  for  his  well-beloved  family. 
His  affections  naturally  clung  to  the  Congregation  of 
which  he  formed  so  bright  an  ornament,  the  Congrega- 
tion of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer  :  and  who  would  blame 
him  for  this?  Before  his  elevation  to  the  episcopate,  he 
had  been,  as  we  have  said,  one  of  its  most  active  mem- 
bers, a  witness  of  the  great  work  it  was  accomplishing, 
a  co-laborer  in  the  same.  A  true  son  of  St.  Alphonsus, 
burning  with  the  same  untiring  zeal  that  urged  his  foun- 
der on  in  his  career  of  devotedness  to  God's  glory,  we 
have  seen  how  Bishop  Neumann  bore  the  burden  of  the 
apostolate  in  by-gone  years.  A  thorough  Redemptorist 
at  heart,  he  found  the  necessity  to  which  he  was  con- 
demned by  the  episcopal  office  a  hard  and  bitter  one. 
He  repeatedly  petitioned  to  have  a  Father  of  the  Con- 
gregation and  a  lay-brother,  or  at  least  one  of  them,  as 
a  member  of  his  household  ;  but  the  state  of  things  at 
that  time  would  not  permit  his  request  to  be  granted. 
This  refusal  did  not,  however,  prevent  the  Bishop's 
choosing  the  seal  of  the  Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy 
Redeemer  as  his  episcopal  coat-of-arms,  and  he  con- 
tinued for  a  time  to  wear  the  Redemptorist  habit.  But 
when  he  perceived  that  this  wearing  the  habit  was  mis- 
understood and  unfavorably  commented  upon,  he  ap- 
peared in  public  clothed  in  the  episcopal  robes.  When, 


362  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

however,  he  found  himself  for  a  few  days  a  guest  at  any 
of  the  Redemptorist  convents,  he  gladly  donned  his  be- 
loved habit  again  :  he  was  once  more  the  Redemptorist 
Father. 

To  Bishop  Neumann's  great  annoyance,  it  was  as- 
serted by  some  individuals  that  his  episcopal  consecra- 
tion had  cut  him  off  from  membership  with  the  Congre- 
gation which  he  loved  so  much.  In  his  doubt  and 
anxiety,  he  recurred  to  the  Holy  Father,  requesting  him 
to  decide  the  mater,  urging  that  it  would  cause  him 
great  pain  if,  after  having  rendered  obedience  to  the 
Chief  Pastor  of  the  Church,  he  should  now  be  deprived 
of  the  graces  and  privileges  of  his  dear  Congregation. 
The  answer  of  the  Holy  Father  removed  all  doubt  on 
that  head.  Here  are  the  words  of  His  Holiness  : 

"Because  you,  my  beloved  son,  have  united  the  virtues 
of  a  religious  with  the  burden  of  a  Bishop,  you  shall  re- 
main a  religious  ;  and  even  if  you  were  no  longer  a  full 
member  of  the  Congregation,  I  would,  by  virtue  of  my 
power,  receive  you  as  such." 

For  the  removal  of  further  scruples,  the  Holy  Father 
added  a  few  regulations  as  to  the  manner  of  his  keeping 
the  vows  of  poverty  and  obedience. 

Every  week  he  went  on  foot  to  the  convent  at  St. 
Peter's,  to  confer  with  his  confessor  ;  he  spent  one  day 
there  every  month  in  retreat,  and  the  ten  successive  days 
of  his  annual  retreat  as  prescribed  by  the  rules  of  the 
Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer.  His  name 
headed  the  list  of  the  community  ;  and  on  New-Year's 
eve,  when  patron  saints,  virtues,  and  particular  prayers 
are  allotted  to  each  for  the  coming  year,  the  Bishop, 
like  all  the  rest,  received  his.  When  with  his  breth- 
ren, he  always  sought  the  last  place  among  the  lay- 
brothers  and  very  reluctantly  accepted  the  highest. 
Let  us  cite  here  the  following  incident  which  hap- 
pened in  Cumberland,  whither  the  Bishop  had  gone 
to  confer  minor  orders  on  some  of  the  Redemptorist 


Solicitude  for  the  Religious  of  his  Diocese.   363 

students.  It  is  customary  in  Redemptorist  convents  to 
visit  the  Blessed  Sacrament  after  dinner  and  there  recite 
the  psalm  De  profundis.  The  lay-brothers,  leaving  the 
refectory  first,  go  processionally  followed  by  the  Fathers 
in  order  to  the  sanctuary,  where  they  range  round  the 
altar.  The  Superior  walks  last ;  but  when  the  Bishop 
happened  to  be  present,  this  post  of  honor  was  assigned 
him.  On  such  occasions  there  was  always  placed  be- 
fore the  altar  a  kneeling-stool  for  the  use  of  His  Lord- 
ship ;  but  he,  instead  of  proceeding  to  the  place  assigned 
him,  would  take  his  station  behind  the  lay-brothers, 
thus  securing  for  himself  the  necessity  of  going  out 
directly  after  them  at  the  close  of  the  prayers.  If  we 
follow  him,  it  will  be  to  the  kitchen,  where  we  shall 
find  him  chuckling  over  the  success  of  his  well-executed 
plan  whilst  girding  himself  with  a  huge  apron  prepara- 
tory to  helping  with  the  dishes.  To  be  sure,  we  shall 
not  have  to  wait  long  before  good  Father  Superior 
makes  his  appearance,  insisting  on  the  Bishop's  going 
with  him  at  once  to  the  recreation-room,  where  the 
Fathers  are  assembled  for  their  after-dinner  chat.  And 
now  behold  a  scene  blessed  in  the  sight  of  Him  who 
was  "  meek  and  humble  of  heart"!  Father  Superior's 
earnestness  to  lead  him  back  in  triumph,  and  the  good 
Bishop  gently  pleading  to  be  allowed  to  perform  the 
lowly  act,  to  feel  that  he  is  still  a  Redemptorist.  O 
Humility,  golden  virtue,  pride  itself  must  bow  down 
before  thee  ! 

It  is  usual  among  the  Redemptorists  for  the  Fathers 
sometimes  to  assist  in  such  offices  for  the  sake  of  prac- 
tising humility. 

When  the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation  was  to  be  ad- 
ministered or  any  other  episcopal  function  to  be  per- 
formed in  the  Redemptorist  convents  out  of  his  own 
diocese,  Bishop  Neumann  was  always  ready,  with  the 
permission  of  the  Ordinary,  to  offer  his  services.  Such 
opportunities  of  obliging  his  brethren  afforded  him  the 


364  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

highest  gratification.  He  went  to  New  York  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  consecration  of  the  Church  of  the  Most  Holy 
Redeemer,  which  took  place  with  great  solemnity  on 
November  28,  1852,  and  he  willingly  accepted  the  invita- 
tion to  preach  the  same  evening.  In  the  Redemptorist 
parishes  of  Baltimore  and  Pittsburg  he  frequently  ad- 
ministered the  Sacrament  of  Confirmation,  performed 
the  ceremonies  of  ordination,  of  laying  the  corner-stones 
of  churches  and  schools,  and  of  blessing  bells,  etc.  Arch- 
bishop Kenrick  and  Bishop  O'Connor,  being  personal 
friends  of  Bishop  Neumann,  were  well  aware  of  what 
could  afford  him  gratification;  consequently  each  gladly 
accorded  to  him  a  general  permission  to  perform  epis- 
copal functions  in  his  diocese.  He  sung  Pontifical  Mass 
at  St.  Peter's,  Philadelphia,  several  times  a  year,  and 
graciously  responded  to  every  invitation  to  exercise  his 
faculties  as  Bishop. 

His  deep  attachment  to  his  own  beloved  Congrega- 
tion was  no  hindrance  to  his  loving  kindness  for  all 
other  religious  Orders.  He  entertained  for  each  and  all 
the  highest  esteem,  nay,  even  reverence,  being  convinced 
that  their  pious  labors  drew  down  upon  his  diocese  the 
richest  blessings  of  Heaven.  Animated  by  this  spirit, 
he  strove  to  improve  the  condition  of  those  already 
within  its  precincts,  and  to  introduce  others.  During  the 
first  year  of  his  episcopate  he  wrote  his  sister  Mary 
Caroline,  a  Sister  of  Charity  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo, 
Bohemia: 

"As  soon  as  I  can  procure  means,  I  intend  to  open  an 
Infant  Asylum  for  a  class  of  children  of  which  hundreds 
have  hitherto  been  lost  to  the  Church;  and  I  hope  that 
in  a  short  time  a  hospital  will  be  established  for  sick 
immigrants.  As  soon  as  things  are  ready,  I  shall  not 
fail  to  apply  to  you.  I  had  this  thought  on  the  Feast  of 
St.  Charles  Borromeo.  It  can  very  easily  be  realized, 
since  the  various  religious  communities  in  the  United 
States  are  always  in  need  of  subjects." 


Solicitude  for  the  Religions  of  his  Diocese.  365 

Again  he  wrote  to  Father  Dichtl:  "  God  be  praised, 
religious  institutions  are  increasing  in  the  diocese!  The 
Jesuit  Fathers  in  Philadelphia  are  opening  their  college 
in  a  new  and  much  larger  building;  the  Sisters  of  the 
Holy  Cross  from  the  diocese  of  Le  Mans,  France,  will 
open  an  industrial  school  for  poor  girls;  and  the  Sisters 
of  Notre  Dame  from  Namur,  Belgium,  are  daily  expect- 
ing to  take  charge  of  a  parochial  school.  However 
gratifying  this  news,  the  difficulties  connected  with  the 
introduction  of  religious  Orders  are  indescribable.  I 
have  had  an  offer  of  eight  acres  near  the  city.  I  intended 
to  accept  it  and  retain  the  property  for  the  Sisters  of  St. 
Charles  Borromeo,  to  be  used  by  them  as  a  hospital  and 
mother- house;  but  the  gentleman  that  made  the  offer 
has  since  lost  forty  thousand  dollars  by  fire,  and  I  know 
not  whether  he  can  now  carry  out  his  benevolent  inten- 
tions." 

The  Sisters  of  the  Immaculate  Heart  of  Mary,  first 
established  in  the  diocese  of  Detroit,  had  many  difficul- 
ties to  overcome  in  the  foundation  of  their  Congrega- 
tion. Bishop  Neumann  lent  them  assistance,  and  re- 
ceived them  into  his  diocese.  They  are  at  present 
laboring  successfully  as  teachers  in  several  other  dio- 
ceses. 

The  Sisters  of  the  Third  Order  of  St.  Francis,  owe 
their  existence  as  an  Order  to  Bishop  Neumann,  and 
justly  honor  him  as  their  father  and  founder.  These 
are  the  Sisters  of  St.  Francis  who  first  formed  a  com- 
munity, April  9,  1855,  under  the  following  circumstances. 
During  his  stay  in  Rome,  the  Bishop  communicated  to 
the  Holy  Father  his  desire  to  introduce  into  his  diocese, 
and  that  at  an  early  date,  the  Sisters  of  St.  Dominic,  who 
might  supply  such  wants  as  could  not  be  met  by  other 
Orders.  His  Holiness,  Pius  IX.,  advised  him  to  train 
the  daughters  of  the  Seraphic  St.  Francis  for  this  pur- 
pose. Regarding  the  Holy  Father's  advice  as  the  de- 
clared will  of  God,  the  Bishop  began  at  once  to  organize 


366  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

the  first  Franciscan  sisterhood  in  America.  To  this  end 
he  sent  for  some  Fathers  of  the  Order,  called  Conven- 
tuals, to  train  these  daughters  of  St.  Francis  in  the  spirit 
of  their  holy  founder.  He  appointed  Mother  Mary  Fran- 
cis Superioress  of  the  little  community,  which  then  con- 
sisted of  only  five  members,  and  gave  them  a  rule  writ- 
ten by  his  own  hand.  No  one  could  peruse  its  contents 
without  feeling  himself  deeply  impressed  by  the  rare 
wisdom  and  prudence  of  the  author.  Notwithstanding 
his  multiplied  occupations,  he  found  time  to  instruct  the 
Sisters  in  monastic  discipline  by  means  of  conferences, 
and  to  lead  them  forward  on  the  road  of  perfection. 
Like  all  the  works  of  God,  the  new  institute  had  to  con- 
tend against  innumerable  contradictions  and  difficulties; 
but  under  the  Bishop's  fostering  care  it  gradually  grew 
and  flourished.  Following  out  his  views,  the  Sisters  were 
to  unite  to  the  active  life  that  of  prayer  and  meditation, 
their  principal  object  being  the  care  of  the  sick,  whom 
they  both  visited  and  nursed.  As  long  as  their  small 
domicile  afforded  accommodations  for  only  a  limited 
number  of  patients,  the  Sisters  devoted  themselves  more 
freely  to  the  care  of  the  sick  in  their  own  homes. 
When,  however,  postulants  were  received  and  the  com- 
munity increased,  they  began  the  second  object  of  their 
mission,  viz.,  the  education  of  youth. 

Scarcely  four  years  after  their  establishment  the  Sis- 
terhood counted  four  houses  in  which  the  virtues  of  the 
Seraphic  St.  Francis  were  fervently  imitated,  the  love 
of  God  and  the  neighbor  practised.  At  the  present  date 
this  Congregation  numbers  about  twenty-five  convents, 
with  two  hundred  professed  Sisters,  all  unceasingly 
active  in  the  several  works  enumerated  above.  These 
convents  are  in  Philadelphia,  Buffalo,  New  York,  Balti- 
more, Pittsburg,  etc. 

One  of  the  strongest  proofs  of  Bishop  Neumann's  high 
appreciation  of  the  religious  life  lies  in  the  fact  of  his 
repeatedly  directing  the  attention  of  his  seminarians  to 


Solicitude  for  the  Religious  of  his  Diocese.  367 

that  sublime  vocation,  and  unhesitatingly  encouraging 
them  to  manifest  to  him  any  desire  they  might  entertain 
to  enter  it.  "  I  shall  cheerfully  give  you  my  permission 
and  blessing,  should  you  wish  to  take  such  a  step." 
Such  was  the  language  of  this  most  disinterested  Bishop, 
who  nevertheless  left  no  means  untried  to  supply  his 
diocese  with  good  recruits  for  the  secular  clergy. 

Bishop  Neumann,  as  might  be  judged  from  the  fore- 
going pages,  delighted  in  acting  as  celebrant  in  the 
ceremonies  of  religious  receptions  and  professions.  An 
observer  could  not  fail  to  mark  the  joy  that  lit  up  his 
countenance  on  such  occasions,  a  joy  mingled  with  de- 
votion. His  earnest  and  soul-inspiring  discourses  at 
such  times  evidenced  his  own  lively  faith,  his  interior 
piety,  and  his  high  esteem  of  the  religious  state.  When 
unable  to  attend  these  ceremonies,  his  regrets  were 
couched  in  terms  so  humble  and  cordial  as  to  compen- 
sate, in  some  degree,  for  his  absence.  Once  he  wrote  to 
a  certain  Superioress  by  whom  he  had  been  invited  to 
take  part  in  the  ceremony  of  receiving  a  novice  to  the 
habit:  "It  would  afford  me  real  pleasure  to  witness  the 
reception  of  a  new  member  to  your  community;  yet  this 
time  I  must  content  myself  with  being  present  in  spirit. 
I  shall,  on  the  day  of  the  ceremony,  offer  up  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  for  the  welfare  of  your  novitiate." 

His  solicitude  for  his  religious  extended  to  whatever 
interested  their  well-being.  He  wished  to  be  informed 
of  the  most  trifling  circumstances,  that  he  might  furnish 
counsel  and  assistance  when  necessary;  indeed,  he  fre- 
quently exhorted  Superiors  by  letter  not  to  fail  to  apply 
to  him  in  all  their  necessities.  "In  whatever  distress 
you  may  be,"  he  wrote  to  one,  "  I  beg  you  to  let  me 
know,  and  I  will  help  you  according  to  my  ability.  I  am 
poor  myself,  yet  I  know  that  God  will  not  forget  us  in 
our  poverty." 

One  day  he  called  at  a  convent  whose  poverty  was  so 
great  that  its  inmates  often  wanted  the  necessaries  of 


368  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

life.  "Right  Reverend  Bishop,"  said  one  of  the  Sisters 
ingenuously,  "we  can  scarcely  get  along.  Sometimes 
we  have  no  coal  to  make  a  fire;  and  when  we  have  coal, 
we  often  have  nothing  to  cook." 

The  Bishop  looked  at  her  thoughtfully,  then,  pointing 
to  a  crucifix  that  hung  near,  he  said:  "There,  dear 
Sisters,  there  is  a  book.  Read  it,  meditate  upon  it.  It 
will  lighten  your  trials,  it  will  help  you  to  bear  your 
crosses." 

But  not  to  mere  words  was  the  good  Bishop's  sym- 
pathy confined.  With  a  smile  full  of  sweetness  and 
benevolence,  he  turned  to  the  Superioress  and  said:  "As 
I  usually  distribute  medals  among  the  Sisters,  I  must  not 
omit  to  do  so  now;  but  to-day  I  am  going  to  give  you 
Yankee  medals,"  and  he  handed  her  fifty  dollars  in  gold 
to  procure  necessaries  for  the  house.  When  relating  this 
incident,  the  Sisters  remarked:  "  His  tone  of  voice  when 
pointing  to  the  crucifix,  his  whole  manner,  made  a  deep 
impression  upon  us.  We  felt  encouraged,  and  we  resolved 
to  bear  our  privations  with  patience." 

To  the  Superioress  of  another  convent  newly-founded, 
he  wrote:  "  I  foresee  that  you  will  have  to  struggle  with 
many  difficulties,  especially  with  great  poverty.  But  I 
am  full  of  confidence  in  God,  who  always  supports  what 
is  undertaken  for  His  own  greater  glory.  Do  not  waver 
in  your  hope.  The  greater  your  distress,  the  greater 
should  be  your  trust  in  help  from  on  high.  Let  us  pray, 
and  God  will  show  us  what  we  must  do." 

But  above  every  other  care  was  that  which  he  enter- 
tained for  the  spiritual  good  of  his  religious.  He  ap- 
pointed their  confessors  only  after  mature  reflection, 
since  to  them  chiefly  appertains  the  noble  task  of  leading 
these  souls  along  the  path  of  perfection.  The  regular 
observance  was  a  point  on  which  he  displayed  untiring 
vigilance;  his  tact  for  discovering  whatever  evils  existed 
in  a  religious  community  was  truly  wonderful.  He  ap- 
plied a  remedy  without  delay,  insisting  especially  upon 


Solicitude  for  the  Religious  of  his  Diocese.  369 

strict  enclosure  for  nuns.  He  did  not  wish  to  see  the 
spouses  of  Jesus  Christ  encouraging  unnecessary  inter- 
course with  seculars.  In  a  letter  to  a  certain  Superioress 
he  says:  "  I  beg  you  to  introduce  as  soon  as  possible  all 
the  spiritual  exercises  prescribed  by  the  rules  of  your 
Order,  for  I  wish  your  house  to  be  a  model  of  religious 
observance.  I  am  not  solicitous  about  its  temporalities. 
Divine  Providence  will  see  that  you  always  have  what  is 
necessary,  if  the  Sisters  faithfully  observe  their  rule  and 
by  their  mutual  love  and  harmony  attract  His  blessing 
upon  themselves.  I  exceedingly  dislike  that  religious 
houses  should  depend  on  the  favor  of  creditors.  Let  us 
trust  in  God  and  St.  Joseph.  In  God's  own  good  time 
things  will  come  right.  Procure  whatever  is  necessary. 
Be  satisfied  with  what  is  needed  for  the  present  day,  and 
confide  the  future  to  God.  This,  I  know  well,  exacts 
great  self-denial,  but  it  is  the  surest  way  of  acting." 

On  another  occasion  he  wrote  to  the  same  Superioress, 
who  was  laboring  under  severe  trials:  "I  am  doing  what 
I  can,  but  patience  is  necessary.  Such  crosses  God  sends 
that  we  may  learn  how  displeasing  it  is  to  Him  to  oblige 
Him  to  wait  for  our  confidence  in  Him  and  for  the  ob- 
servance of  our  rule,  since  to  all  this  He  is  justly  en- 
titled at  every  moment  of  our  life." 

Although  Bishop  Neumann  was  a  man  of  vast  erudi- 
tion and  one  who  highly  valued  science,  yet  he  preferred 
virtue  to  learning.  "Your  chief  study,"  said  he  to  the 
Sisters  of  a  certain  academy,  "  is  your  rule.  If  you  ob- 
serve it  faithfully  and  conscientiously,  God  will  bless 
your  work.  Our  labors  are  crowned  not  so  much  by  our 
own  efforts  as  by  God's  blessing.  I  am  fully  convinced 
that  a  Sister  who  possesses  comparatively  less  learning, 
yet  who  is  faithful  to  God,  will  have  more  success  than 
others  who  are  perhaps  better  educated,  but  who  do  not 
observe  the  rules  faithfully." 

The  Superioress-General  of  a  certain  Order  often 
wrote  to  Bishop  Neumann  for  advice  in  matters  of  im- 


370  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

portance.  In  one  of  her  letters  she  incidentally  com- 
plained of  the  burden  and  responsibility  of  her  office, 
remarking  that  for  such  a  post  she  was  too  young  and 
altogether  unfit.  The  Bishop's  reply  was  as  dignified  as 
it  was  paternal.  "  My  dear  Sister,"  he  wrote,  "  God 
strengthens  and  enlightens  even  young  and  weak  Sisters 
in  such  offices.  Reconcile  yourself  to  your  position  in 
all  humility.  Every  Superior  has  his  faults.  There  has 
never  yet  been  a  man,  never  a  Superior,  that  has  not 
sometimes  made  mistakes,  that  has  not  sometimes 
erred."  The  young  Superioress  to  whom  the  above  was 
addressed  afterward  declared  that  the  Bishop's  words 
quieted  her,  whilst  at  the  same  time  they  afforded  her 
salutary  humiliation. 

These  and  similar  expressions  he  often  used  for  the 
peace  or  consolation  of  others.  They  always  produced 
a  soothing  effect  upon  the  mind  of  those  to  whom  they 
were  directed  and  stimulated  them  to  the  practice  of 
virtue.  Upon  one  of  his  visits  to  a  convent  he  found  the 
Sisters  occupied  in  laborious  household  duties.  They 
wore  a  look  of  fatigue,  which  the  kind-hearted  Bishop 
noticing,  said:  "Remember,  dear  Sisters,  your  labors 
are  similar  to  those  of  the  Blessed  Virgin.  If  you  unite 
them  to  hers,  you  will  find  them  less  wearisome." 

On  another  occasion  he  said:  "This  is  the  season  com- 
memorative of  our  Lord's  sufferings.  We  must  carry  our 
cross  with  Him."  His  uninterrupted  intercourse  with 
God  produced  a  most  beneficial  impression  upon  all  that 
conversed  with  him.  His  most  frequent  expression  was, 
"  For  God  alone  !"  or  "  For  God,  the  Almighty  !" — words 
uttered  with  so  much  earnestness,  with  so  much  faith, 
that  the  hearers  felt  persuaded  that  they  sprung  from 
the  depths  of  his  own  upright  soul. 


Bishop  Neumanns  Reverence  and  Devotion.    371 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Bishop  Neumann's    Reverence  and    Devotion  in 
the  Performance  of  Sacred  Functions. 

IF  Bishop  Neumann's  habitual  recollectedness  exer- 
cised so  salutary  an  influence  upon  those  that  came 
in  daily  contact  with  him,  his  faith  and  love  of  God  shone 
out  still  more  clearly  when  engaged  in  the  performance 
of  sacred  functions.  When  administering  the  Sacrament 
of  Confirmation,  of  holy  orders,  or  performing  other 
ceremonies  peculiar  to  the  episcopal  office,  his  whole 
countenance  was  radiant  with  devotion,  whilst  his  every 
word  and  movement  was  stamped  with  unaffected  dig- 
nity. On  such  occasions  he  carefully  observed  every 
formula;  not  a  rubric  was  neglected.  Dr.  Richard  Clarke 
says:  "Bishop  Neumann  distinguished  himself  by  his 
exact  observance  of  all  the  prescribed  ceremonies  of  the 
Church;"  and  one  of  his  clergy  remarks  on  the  same 
point:  "I  shall  never  forget  the  time  that  I  was  present 
with  him  at  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  St.  Al- 
phonsus'  Church,  Philadelphia.  To  have  been  near  him 
on  such  an  occasion  is  to  retain  an  impression  full  of  ad- 
miration for  his  faith,  his  reverence,  his  childlike  fidelity 
to  the  Church  in  the  observance  of  her  sacred  cere- 
monies." 

In  the  performance  of  such  functions  Bishop  Neumann 
was  indefatigable.  On  Holy  Saturday  of  1853  he  offi- 
ciated in  St.  Peter's,  Philadelphia.  At  six  in  the  morn- 
ing service  began  with  the  blessing  of  the  new  fire  and 
the  paschal  candle,  followed  by  that  of  the  baptismal 
font  and  the  baptism  of  several  adults.  After  the  sing- 
ing of  the  Litanies  came  High  Mass,  during  which  the 


372  Life  of  Bishop  Neiimann. 

Bishop  conferred  the  tonsure,  the  four  minor  orders, 
the  diaconate  and  subdiaconate  on  several  candidates 
for  the  ranks  of  the  secular  and  regular  clergy,  besides 
ordaining  others.  The  ceremonies  were  long  and  fatigu- 
ing; yet  the  Bishop  looked  upon  this  part  of  Almighty 
God's  service  as  a  joy,  yes,  even  a  recreation. 

The  Bishop  was  as  great  a  stickler  for  the  reverential 
performance  of  sacred  duties  and  adherence  to  rubrics 
in  the  case  of  his  priests  as  in  his  own.  He  made  excel- 
lent rules  on  these  points  in  his  diocesan  synods;  and 
at  the  quarterly  conferences  he  caused  one  or  other  of 
the  reverend  gentlemen  to  practise  certain  ceremonies 
according  to  the  rules  laid  down  in  the  Ritual  and  Cere- 
monial. He  was,  above  all,  deeply  interested  in  the 
exact  and  respectful  celebration  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice  of 
the  Mass,  and  he  frequently  instructed  the  theological 
students  himself  how  to  offer  up  the  Holy  Mysteries  in 
the  spirit  of  the  Church.  On  this  subject  he  once  wrote 
to  Rev.  Father  Dichtl:  "Last  month  I  assembled  all  the 
priests  of  my  diocese,  and  gave  them  the  spiritual  exer- 
cises; then  followed  a  synod:  and  I  have  reason  to 
rejoice  over  the  success  of  both.  These  synods  are 
especially  needed  in  the  United  States,  in  order  to  secure 
uniformity  in  the  performance  of  clerical  functions.  As 
missionaries  come  here  from  all  parts  of  Christendom, 
each  bringing  with  him  the  peculiarities  of  his  own 
nation,  discord  may  thereby  be  engendered.  I  know  of 
no  better  means  than  these  synods  to  settle  things  at 
once,  as  is  done  in  the  Eternal  City.  Besides  several 
statutes  enacted  upon  various  points  of  discipline,  it  was 
also  proposed  to  introduce  into  the  larger  churches  of 
the  diocese  the  devotion  of  the  Forty  Hours,  so  that 
there  might  be  no  week  in  the  year  in  which  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  would  not  be  exposed  for  the  adoration  of 
the  faithful." 

In  the  Blessed  Sacrament  Bishop  Neumann  found  the 
sweet  object  of  his  lively  faith,  his  firm  hope,  his  tender 


Bishop  Neiimanris  Reverence  and  Devotion.    373 

love.  His  devotion  to  Jesus  hidden  under  the  Eucharis- 
tic  veils  was  earnest  and  edifying;  and  intense  was  his 
desire  to  enkindle  the  same  among  his  flock.  He  longed 
for  them  to  share  largely  in  the  rich  blessings  flowing 
from  this  source  of  grace.  The  best  means  to  accomplish 
this  lay,  as  he  thought,  in  the  devotion  of  the  Forty 
Hours;  and  the  thought  of  introducing  it  into  his  dio- 
cese, of  celebrating  it  with  all  possible  pomp  and 
splendor,  was  one  that  constantly  recurred  to  his  mind. 

During  the  last  diocesan  synod,  as  we  have  read  above, 
the  introduction  of  the  devotion  had  been  proposed,  but 
nothing  definitive  connected  with  it  agreed  upon.  The 
Bishop  did  not  desire  to  be  the  sole  originator  of  the 
movement,  so  he  communicated  his  inspiration  to  a  few 
of  his  confidential  and  most  experienced  friends  among 
the  clergy.  But  his  wishes  met  with  no  response  from 
them.  They  were  of  opinion  that  the  time  had  not  yet 
arrived  for  the  worthy  celebration  of  the  devotion  in  this 
country;  that  the  faithful  were  not  ripe  for  it;  that  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  would  receive  more  dishonor  than 
honor  in  those  long  hours  of  exposition.  The  good 
Bishop,  though  a  little  disappointed  at  not  finding  him- 
self supported,  yet  did  not  consider  the  hesitation  of  the 
persons  consulted  a  sufficient  reason  for  abandoning 
his  cherished  design.  He  would,  on  the  one  hand, 
gladly  have  been  influenced  by  the  opinion  of  prudent 
men;  but,  on  the  other,  his  intense  love  for  Jesus  in  the 
Blessed  Sacrament  constantly  urged  him  to  the  execu- 
tion of  his  design.  Whilst  thus  undecided,  the  following 
incident  occurred,  in  which  our  Lord  appears  to  have 
encouraged  him  by  a  miracle  in  the  accomplishment  of 
what  was  to  be  so  fruitful  in  glory  to  His  hidden  Majesty 
and  blessings  to  His  redeemed  ones. 

Late  one  evening,  Bishop  Neumann  sat  in  his  room 
busy  inditing  answers  to  innumerable  letters  that  lay 
before  him.  Midnight  sounded  and  found  him  still  at 
work.  The  candle  that  he  used  in  sealing  his  letters 


374  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

had  well-nigh  burned  out,  and  he  vainly  tried  to  steady 
the  only  remaining  piece  at  hand  in  the  candlestick. 
Not  being  able  to  succeed,  and  preoccupied  with  the 
thought  that  had  so  long  pursued  him,  that  of  the  Forty 
Hours,  he  rather  carelessly, — we  should  perhaps  say 
providentially, — stood  the  piece  of  lighted  candle  on  the 
table,  placing  around  it  as  a  support  some  letters  and 
writing-paper.  Wearied  by  so  many  hours  of  close 
application,  he  fell  into  a  light  sleep,  from  which  he  sud- 
denly awoke  in  alarm  to  find  the  candle  consumed  and 
his  table  covered  with  smouldering  paper.  He  gazed  in 
astonishment  at  the  glowing  sheets,  many  of  them  burnt 
and  charred,  though  the  writing  they  contained  remained 
untouched  and  legible.  Overcome  by  what  he  saw,  and 
heedless  of  quenching  the  glowing  sparks,  the  servant 
of  God  sank  on  his  knees.  As  he  knelt  in  silent  grati- 
tude for  this  apparently  miraculous  interposition  of 
Divine  Providence,  it  seemed  to  him  that  he  heard  an 
interior  voice  saying:  "  As  the  flames  are  here  burning 
without  consuming  or  even  injuring  the  writing,  so  shall 
I  pour  out  My  grace  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament  without 
prejudice  to  My  honor.  Fear  not  profanation,  therefore; 
hesitate  no  longer  to  carry  out  your  designs  for  My 
glory." 

The  Bishop  was  confirmed  in  his  resolution.  At  that 
very  hour  he  expedited  the  order  for  all  the  parish 
churches  of  his  diocese  to  celebrate  the  devotion  of  the 
Forty  Hours.  This  was  in  the  year  1853. 

He  caused  a  pamphlet  containing  the  history  of  the 
devotion,  the  manner  of  conducting  it,  and  the  prayers 
for  the  same  to  be  printed  in  Latin.  In  1855  the  Pope 
granted  to  all  the  faithful  of  the  diocese  of  Philadelphia 
the  same  indulgences  as  are  gained  in  Rome  on  such 
occasions. 

The  church  of  St.  Philip  Neri  was  the  first  in  Philadel- 
phia to  celebrate  the  devotion.  The  Bishop  himself 
inaugurated  and  directed  the  solemnity;  he  scarcely  left 


Bishop  Neumanns  Reverence  and  Devotion.    375 

the  church  during  the  three  days  of  its  continuance.  His 
soul  overflowed  with  heavenly  consolation,  and  his  coun- 
tenance beamed  with  joy  at  the  sight  of  this  blissful 
realization  of  his  long-cherished  scheme.  The  clergy 
and  laity  alike  were  deeply  edified  at  his  ardent  love  for 
Jesus  in  the  Holy  Eucharist.  For  the  worthy  celebration 
of  the  devotion,  he  gladly  lent  his  own  magnificent 
ostensorium  and  his  richest  vestments.  It  was  his  great- 
est happiness  to  contribute  in  every  way  to  the  glory  of 
his  hidden  God:  magnificent  ornaments,  rare  flowers, 
innumerable  lights — all  that  the  wealth  of  earth  could 
afford  or  the  skill  of  man  devise  he  wished  to  lay  in 
homage  upon  the  altar  of  his  Lord.  Whenever  it  was 
possible,  he  opened  the  Forty  Hours  with  Pontifical 
High  Mass,  took  part  in  the  procession,  or  closed  the 
solemnities. 

The  faithful  flocked  to  the  churches  in  crowds,  both 
for  public  and  private  devotions,  during  the  three  days 
of  exposition — a  fact  which  affords  the  most  striking 
proof  that  the  introduction  of  the  Forty  Hours  in  this 
country  was  entirely  opportune.  Bishop  Neumann's  ex- 
ample was  soon  followed  by  his  brother-Bishops,  even 
by  those  who  withheld  the  weight  of  their  encourage- 
ment when  the  question  was  first  mooted.  At  the  present 
day  there  are  few  dioceses  in  the  United  States  that  do 
not  gratefully  share  in  the  blessings  emanating  from  this 
public  homage  to  Jesus  in  the  Most  Blessed  Sacrament. 

The  feelings  that  animated  Bishop  Neumann's  heart 
for  this  Mystery  of  Love  led  him,  in  1855,  to  establish 
the  Archconfraternity  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  in  St. 
Alphonsus'  Church,  Philadelphia.  He  himself  drew  up 
the  rules  and  arranged  the  order  of  devotions  The 
members  bind  themselves  to  honor  their  Lord  and 
Saviour  in  a  special  manner  by  faithful  compliance  with 
the  duties  of  their  state,  and  by  appropriate  devotions 
before  the  Blessed  Sacrament.  Exposition  follows  Ves- 
pers of  every  Sunday  and  holy- day,  when  a  short  sermon 


376  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

on  the  Holy  Eucharist  is  delivered,  and  the  Litany  of  the 
Holy  Name  of  Jesus  or  that  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  is 
recited  by  the  officiating  clergyman,  the  congregation 
answering.  This  is  followed  by  a  hymn,  to  which  suc- 
ceed indulgenced  prayers  in  honor  of  the  Five  Sacred 
Wounds,  offered  in  reparation  for  the  ingratitude,  indif- 
ference, and  profanations  which  Jesus  endures  in  the 
Most  Blessed  Sacrament.  The  veneration  of  each  Wound 
concludes  with  the  short  act  of  adoration:  "  Praised  and 
blessed  forever  be  the  Most  Holy  Sacrament  of  the 
altar!"  The  devotions  terminate  with  Benediction.  On 
the  second  Sunday  of  each  month  the  Blessed  Sacra- 
ment is  borne  in  solemn  procession  through  the  church. 

To  excite  and  nourish  among  the  faithful  an  effective 
and  grateful  remembrance  of  the  sufferings  of  our  Lord, 
Bishop  Neumann  prescribed  special  Lenten  services 
throughout  his  diocese.  On  one  day  of  the  week  the 
Way  of  the  Cross  was  to  be  made  by  the  priest  and  the 
people  together,  and  on  another  a  sermon  was  to  be 
preached  on  the  Passion,  Benediction  of  the  Blessed 
Sacrament  to  be  given  at  the  close  of  each  devotion. 
Where  there  were  several  churches,  he  so  arranged  that 
these  devotions  took  place  on  different  evenings,  thus 
affording  the  faithful  an  opportunity  for  more  frequent 
attendance. 

Bishop  Neumann  was  of  opinion  that  confraternities 
are  an  excellent  means  to  foster  true  piety  among  the 
faithful;  consequently  he  introduced  several  into  his 
diocese.  To  a  prominent  ecclesiastic  in  Bohemia  he 
wrote  as  follows:  "  Please  to  give  the  enclosed  picture  of 

the  scapular  to  Mr.  N ,  and  tell  him  to  make  use  of  it 

as  an  incentive  to  greater  veneration  toward  the  Blessed 
Virgin.  The  Mother  of  God  will  obtain  many  graces 
for  him  at  the  hour  of  death,  if  he  is  faithful  in  asking 
her  for  them.  I  hope  he  will  not  forget  me  in  his 
prayers.  During  the  visitation  of  my  diocese  this  year 
I  had  the  consolation  of  witnessing  the  happy  fruits  pro- 


Bishop  Neumanns  Reverence  and  Devotion.    377 

duced  by  the  missions.  The  Fathers  have  introduced 
into  many  congregations  the  Confraternities  of  the 
Scapular,  the  Rosary,  and  the  Immaculate  Heart  of 
Mary.  All  this,  with  God's  help,  will  serve  to  foster  the 
spirit  of  faith  and  piety,  an  end  so  important  in  the 
United  States,  where  faith  is  exposed  to  greater  danger 
than  elsewhere." 

Bishop  Neumann  made  regulations  also  for  the  care- 
ful and  respectful  preservation  of  everything  appertain- 
ing to  the  service  of  the  altar,  sacred  vessels,  vestments, 
etc.  All  were  to  be  preserved  in  good  condition  and  in 
proper  places.  As  no  suitable  vessel  had  as  yet  been 
devised  for  the  holy  oils,  he  had  one  made  according  to 
his  own  directions.  It  has  been  found  most  convenient, 
both  as  to  material  and  form,  and  it  is  now  in  general  use. 

The  following  incident  will  present  to  the  reader  some 
idea  of  the  highly  refined  and  artistic  bent  of  Bishop 
Neumann's  religious  soul.  We  have  seen,  in  treating  of 
the  Forty  Hours,  his  eagerness  to  place  whatever  treas- 
ures our  earth  can  afford  at  the  feet  of  his  God.  The 
circumstance  of  the  famous  ivory  crucifix  we  may  adduce 
in  proof  of  the  same.  As  soon  as  his  eyes  rested  upon 
this  masterpiece  of  more  than  human  skill,  he  conceived 
so  tender  an  affection  for  the  Crucified  as  there  repre- 
sented, he  expressed  his  admiration  in  terms  so  enthusi- 
astic, so  indicative  of  the  artist's  soul  burning  within 
him,  that  the  owner,  though  fully  conscious  of  the  prize 
he  possessed,  could  not  refuse  to  let  him  have  it.  The 
Bishop  lost  no  time  in  securing  for  his  Cathedral  this 
treasure  of  art,  this  product  of  heavenly  inspiration. 

A  sketch  of  this  crucifix  and  its  carver  will,  doubtless, 
be  of  interest  to  the  reader. 

Carlo  Antonio  Pesenti  was  born  February  23,  1801,  in 
the  valley  of  Brembana,  Italy.  He  received  from  his 
parents  a  good  Christian  education,  and  was  remarkable 
e.ven  in  childhood  for  piety.  His  greatest  delight  was  to 
fashion  the  images  of  Mary  and  of  his  patrons.  Saints 


3  78  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Charles  and  Anthony,  out  of  wood.  Thus  did  he  grow 
up  from  boyhood  to  manhood,  the  years  bringing  with 
them  naught  to  mar  the  beauty  and  freshness  of  his 
innocent  soul.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he  con- 
ceived the  design  of  carrying  out  a  long- cherished 
desire,  that  of  visiting  the  Holy  Places  in  Rome. 
God  favored  the  youth,  and  things  fell  out  propi- 
tiously for  Antonio.  On  his  homeward  journey  he 
resolved  to  turn  aside  a  little  in  order  to  visit  the  mon- 
astery of  St.  Nicholas  Tolentino,  not  far  from  Genoa. 
Here  he  sought  shelter  for  the  night,  and  here  it  was 
that  Almighty  God  made  known  to  him  his  vocation  to 
the  religious  life.  Touched  and  edified  by  the  prayers 
and  canticles  of  the  good  monks,  Antonio  obeyed  the 
secret  inspiration  which  urged  him  to  ask  to  be  received 
among  them.  His  request  was  favored;  he  entered  the 
novitiate,  and  in  due  time  made  his  vows  as  a  lay- 
brother.  His  virtuous  life  soon  made  him  a  model  for 
the  whole  community.  Fifteen  years  passed,  and  Fra 
Antonio  lived  on  in  fervor,  in  prayer,  and  in  deeds  of 
charity,  carving  rude  images  of  the  saints,  studying  their 
lives  and  striving  to  imitate  their  virtues.  Especially 
was  he  devout  to  the  Sacred  Passion  of  Christ,  from  the 
uninterrupted  contemplation  of  which  his  very  counte- 
nance had  caught  a  seraphic  glow.  Once,  whilst  ab- 
sorbed in  such  meditation,  a  vision  unfolded  itself  before 
his  enraptured  gaze — a  vision  of  his  Lord  hanging  on  the 
Wood  of  Redemption,  His  sacred  features  breathing 
love  and  peace.  In  an  ecstasy  of  grief  and  love,  the 
monk  gazed  on  the  wondrous  spectacle,  and  as  he  gazed 
there  sprung  up  in  his  soul  a  longing  to  represent  in 
some  visible  form  what  he  then  saw.  But  how  was  this 
to  be  accomplished  ?  What  could  he,  a  simple  lay- 
brother,  do?  Everything  was  wanting  to  him — materials, 
implements,  and,  more  than  all,  knowledge  of  that  art 
whose  rules  would  direct  him  to  the  end.  But  He  who 
had  engraven  this  picture  of  His  sufferings  so  deeply  in 


Bishop  Neumanns  Reverence  and  Devotion.    379 

Antonio's  heart  guided  the  unskilled  hand  in  the  use  of 
hammer  and  chisel. 

In  the  storeroom  of  the  old  convent  lay  a  massive 
block  of  ivory,  measuring  over  three  feet  in  length,  four- 
teen inches  in  thickness,  and  weighing  about  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  pounds.  The  prior's  permission 
being  readily  obtained,  Fra  Antonio  removed  the  block 
to  his  cell  and  with  steady  purpose  set  about  his  task  of 
love.  Layer  after  layer  of  discolored  crust  was  carefully 
and  patiently  removed  ere  the  pure  white  ivory  was 
reached. 

Four  years  rolled  by,  and  still  were  hammer  and  chisel 
busily  plied,  fashioning  the  rough  mass  into  the  image 
of  the  Crucified  such  as  He  had  deigned  to  show  Him- 
self to  Fra  Antonio's  ravished  eyes.  Oftentimes  the 
monk  grew  weary,  temptations  to  abandon  his  design 
seized  upon  him.  Was  it  not,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  rash 
and  foolish  after  all — this  undertaking  of  his?  How 
could  he,  ignorant  of  the  sculptor's  art,  hope  to  succeed 
in  so  bold  an  enterprise  ?  And  what  did  Fra  Antonio  at 
such  moments  ?  He  prayed,  he  invoked  Our  Lady's 
help,  and  he  fainted  not. 

Twenty-four,  even  thirty,  consecutive  hours  often 
found  the  monk  still  bending  over  his  work.  Tears  and 
prayers  mingled  with  the  hammer's  blows  and  the 
chisel's  strokes;  visitors,  drawn  by  the  fame  of  the  work 
and  the  workman,  crowded  the  secluded  cell:  and  still 
the  monk  toiled  on. 

At  last  a  day  came  on  which  the  hammer  was  silent 
and  the  chisel  was  laid  aside.  The  monk's  task  of 
love  was  finished,  and  he  gazed  with  tearful  eyes  upon 
the  embodiment  of  the  vision  of  ravishing  beauty  that 
had  once  been  his. 

The  work  was  pronounced  a  masterpiece,  a  marvel  of 
art,  by  the  most  distinguished  connoisseurs  who  came 
from  far  and  near  to  behold  the  production  of  that  un- 
trained hand. 


380  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

In  1843,  Mr.  E.  Lester,  United  States  Consul  at 
Genoa,  visited  the  convent  to  see  for  himself  the  cruci- 
fix so  admired,  so  praised  even,  by  eminent  artists.  He 
saw,  and  he  longed  to  possess.  The  convent  was  poor; 
Mr.  Lester's  offer  was  large:  and  need  we  say  that  he 
soon  found  himself  the  fortunate  owner  of  the  won- 
drously  beautiful  object  ?  He  transferred  it  to  the 
Academy  of  Fine  Arts  in  Genoa,  whither,  as  to  the 
humble  cell  of  its  carver,  it  soon  attracted  numbers  of 
visitors.  The  most  celebrated  artists  declared  it  inimi- 
table; and  it  is  indeed  in  every  respect,  even  in  the 
minutest  details,  a  perfect  work.  The  Divine  Counte- 
nance unites  an  expression  of  exquisite  suffering  with  a 
smile  of  ineffable  sweetness. 

From  Genoa  it  was,  at  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Power, 
the  great  American  sculptor,  taken  to  Florence,  and 
afterward  exhibited  in  many  of  the  cities  of  Europe  and 
America.  The  Cosmopolitan  Art  Association  purchased 
it  from  Mr.  Lester  for  ten  thousand  dollars;  thence  it 
passed  into  the  hands  of  a  gentleman  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  from  him  into  the  possession  of  Bishop  Neumann, 
through  whom  it  was  to  reach  its  fitting  destination. 
Encased  in  glass,  it  is  now  exposed  in  the  Cathedral  of 
Philadelphia,  an  object  of  devout  admiration  to  the 
visitor. 

Bishop  Neumann's  fondness  for  articles  of  devotion 
had  in  it  something  remarkably  childlike.  He  greatly 
venerated  holy  relics,  numbers  of  which  he  always  had 
in  his  possession.  These  he  used  to  exhibit  to  his  visi- 
tors as  precious  treasures,  relating  the  while  some 
beautiful  traits  from  the  lives  of  the  saints  to  whom 
they  belonged.  He  often  divided  them  himself  into 
small  particles,  enclosed  them  in  reliquaries,  sealed 
them,  and  affixed  thereto  a  certificate  of  authen- 
ticity. He  delighted  in  presenting  them  to  his  priests 
and  religious,  with  an  injunction  to  value  them  highly 
and  venerate  them  lovingly. 


The   Building'  of  tlic   Cathedral.         381 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
The  Building  of  the  Cathedral. 

WE  have  seen  that  the  Cathedral  of  Bishop  Neu- 
mann's episcopal  city  was  but  recently  com- 
menced at  the  period  of  his  taking  possession  of  it;  but 
in  its  progress  and  completion  he  took  the  liveliest  in- 
terest. That  he  was  endowed  with  qualifications  for  carry- 
ing on  the  great  work  we  may  learn  from  a  remark  made 
by  Bishop  O'Connor,  of  Pittsburg.  When  the  prelates 
of  the  Baltimore  Province  assembled  in  1851  to  propose 
three  candidates  for  the  vacant  see  of  Philadelphia,  the 
learned  and  saintly  Bishop  O'Connor,  on  giving  his 
vote,  spoke  as  t  follows:  "  Philadelphia  must  have  a 
Bishop  that  can  build  the  Cathedral.  Since  the  Re- 
demptorist  Father  Neumann  knows  how  to  erect  fine 
churches  with  small  means,  I  give  him  my  vote." 
Bishop  O'Connor  here  made  allusion  to  the  beautiful 
church  of  St.  Philomena  built  by  Father  Neumann 
during  the  period  of  his  rectorship  in  Pittsburg. 

The  foundation  of  the  Cathedral,  Philadelphia,  had 
been  laid  by  Bishop  Neumann's  predecessor,  Most  Rev. 
Archbishop  Kenrick,  on  September  9,  1846. 

In  his  first  Pastoral  the  new  Bishop  reminded  the 
faithful  of  their  obligation  to  contribute  according  to 
their  means  to  the  erection  of  a  temple  worthy  of  the 
Lord.  On  May  4,  1852,  he  issued  a  circular  exhorting 
his  flock  to  renewed  exertions  in  this  so  important 
matter,  and  inviting  their  attendance  at  a  meeting  to  be 
held  for  the  purpose  of  taking  measures  for  its  comple- 
tion. A  committee  was  appointed  to  aid  the  Bishop. 
In  his  opening  address  Bishop  Neumann  made  known 


382  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

his  resolve  to  go  on  with  the  building  only  as  long  as  he 
could  command  the  funds  necessary  for  it,  only  when  he 
had  money  in  hand;  for  the  Cathedral,  he  said,  should 
have  no  debts.  The  want  of  means  had  caused  the  dis- 
continuance of  the  work,  but  it  should  be  resumed  as 
soon  as  the  contributions  of  the  faithful  authorized 
such  a  step.  The  Bishop  made  the  following  proposal 
to  the  committee,  which  was  readily  accepted: 

"  In  every  parish  throughout  the  diocese  let  collectors 
keep  a  list  of  contributors'  names,  together  with  the 
amount  subscribed,  the  money  to  be  handed  over  to  the 
pastor,  who  will  forward  it  to  the  treasurer." 

The  annual  mass-meeting  for  the  benefit  of  the  Cathe- 
dral was  always  well  attended,  and  at  it  the  Bishop 
generally  presided.  A  remarkable  feature  of  these 
grand  meetings  was  their  unbroken  peace  and  harmony. 
At  one  of  them  the  Bishop  spoke  as  follows:  "The 
report  that  Rev.  Mr.  Waldron  will  read  to  us  presently 
proves  that  the  erection  of  the  Cathedral  has  been  con- 
tinued with  the  same  zeal  and  earnestness  as  it  was 
begun  under  the  direction  of  my  most  reverend  prede- 
cessor. We  are  hopeful  that  a  similar  zeal  will  bring 
the  great  work  to  a  happy  completion.  The  circum- 
stances, however,  of  its  progressing  slowly  ought  not  to 
discourage  any  one,  nor  should  any  be  tempted  to  doubt 
of  its  ever  being  finished.  Such  an  assertion  would 
offend  Divine  Providence.  The  old  saying  holds  good 
here:  '  What  is  to  last  long  must  be  built  slowly.'  Our 
principal  object  in  moving  thus  slowly  is  that  the  faith- 
ful may  not  be  taxed  too  heavily,  since  every  parish  has 
its  own  institutions  to  support. 

"  If  we  make  the  same  progress  in  the  future  that  we 
have  done  in  the  past,  this  beautiful  house  of  the  Lord 
will  certainly  be  finished.  It  will  be  not  only  an  orna- 
ment to  the  city,  but  a  monument  of  the  fervent  piety 
and  self-sacrificing  spirit  of  the  faithful  of  this  diocese. 
The  contributions  received  in  the  past,  with  the  names 


The  Building  of  the  Cathedral.         383 

of  the  contributors,  are  a  certain  proof  that  all  with  few 
exceptions  have  done  their  duty.  This  knowledge  must 
be  a  new  stimulus  for  the  future."  (Applause.) 

After  the  secretary  had  read  the  amount  of  receipts 
and  expenditures  during  the  preceding  year,  several 
prominent  members  of  the  clergy  and  laity  addressed 
the  meeting  in  terms  expressive  of  their  approval  of  the 
Bishop's  suggestions. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  following  year,  1857,  Bishop 
Neumann  remarked  that  the  Catholics  in  the  diocese 
amounted  to  three  hundred  thousand  souls,  of  whom  one 
half  belonged  to  Philadelphia.  So  large  a  number  was 
an  additional  reason  why  the  Cathedral  should  soon  be 
completed. 

In  1858  the  walls  were  up,  and  on  September  13, 
1859,  the  keystone  was  set  and  the  cross  placed  in  posi- 
tion. This  event  was  commemorated  by  a  celebration 
in  which  several  prelates  and  a  large  number  of  the 
clergy  participated.  Right  Rev.  Martin  John  Spalding, 
Bishop  of  Louisville,  preached  to  an  immense  concourse 
of  people,  taking  for  the  subject  of  his  discourse  the 
signification  of  the  cross.  The  ceremony  of  blessing 
was  performed  by  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Wood,  Bishop 
Neumann's  coadjutor. 

Bishop  Neumann  presided,  his  heart  overflowing 
with  gratitude  to  the  Almighty  for  the  success  thus  far 
attained  in  the  great  undertaking.  He  had  the  joy  and 
consolation  of  seeing  the  exterior  of  his  Cathedral 
finished.  He  was  richly  compensated  for  the  weight  of 
care  that  had  rested  upon  him,  for  the  efforts  he  had 
made  in  the  past  seven  years  to  bring  it  to  its  present 
advanced  state. 

The  style  of  the  Philadelphia  Cathedral  is  the  modern 
Roman  cruciform.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  sacred  edi- 
fices in  the  United  States,  being  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
six  feet  wide,  two  hundred  and  sixteen  long,  two 
hundred  and  ten  feet  high  to  the  roof  of  the  dome, 


384  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

which  latter  measures  seventy-one  feet  in  diameter. 
The  middle  nave  is  fifty  feet  wide,  and  is  separated  from 
the  two  side  aisles  by  massive  fluted  columns  of  the 
Corinthian  order.  The  side  aisles  are  seventy-two  feet 
in  width,  and  nearly  equal  in  height  to  the  central  nave. 
The  sanctuary  is  fifty  feet  broad  and  forty-four  feet 
long,  affording  ample  space  for  the  performance  of 
ceremonies  on  grand  festivals  and  other  occasions.  The 
two  side-aisle  chapels  are  each  twenty-two  by  twenty- 
four  feet,  and  surmounted  by  domes  of  smaller  dimen- 
sions than  the  central  one.  The  grand  entrance  is  sup- 
ported by  four  pillars  sixty  feet  high,  and,  like  the  en- 
tire building,  is  of  the  richest  and  purest  Corinthian 
style.  Over  this  entrance  is  read  the  inscription,  "Ad 
major  em  Dei  gloriam  " — "  For  the  greater  glory  of  God." 

Despite  the  Bishop's  energy  and  the  support  he  re- 
ceived from  the  faithful,  the  construction  of  the  Cathe- 
dral proceeded  slowly,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  work 
was  carried  on  only  when  funds  for  the  same  were 
on  hand.  Foreseeing  that  many  years  would  elapse 
before  it  would  be  ready  for  service,  the  Bishop,  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  parishioners,  erected  in  1857,  on 
a  lot  adjoining  his  residence,  a  large  chapel  so  con- 
structed as  to  answer  the  purposes  of  a  school-house  at 
some  future  day. 

The  Bishop  viewed  with  horror  that  want  of  foresight 
which  here  in  America  so  often  involves  church-property 
in  debt;  and  he  frequently  raised  his  voice  against  such 
rashness  in  the  erection  of  churches,  schools,  etc.  He 
admonished  his  clergy  never  to  embark  in  these  under- 
takings without  his  special  permission.  This  wise  and 
judicious  command  could  not,  however,  prevent  ecclesi- 
astical property  from  sometimes  being  thus  placed  in 
jeopardy.  Certain  unfortunate  circumstances  combined 
at  one  time  to  embarrass  the  finances  of  St.  Alphonsus' 
Church,  Philadelphia.  The  sacred  edifice  was  on  the 
point  of  being  put  up  at  sale  in  order  to  satisfy  the  de- 


The  Building  of  the  Cathedral.         385 

mands  of  its  creditors.  The  Bishop  heard  of  it,  and 
hastened  to  adopt  suitable  measures  to  relieve  the 
church  of  its  debts.  Some  prominent  citizens  advised 
him  to  leave  the  church  in  the  hands  of  the  creditors  for 
a  public  sale,  at  which  he  could  buy  it  in  himself  for  less 
than  its  amount  of  indebtedness.  But  the  Bishop  could 
not  reconcile  such  a  proceeding  to  his  own  ideas  of  jus- 
tice. Discarding  the  well-meant  advice,  he  set  about 
using  such  means  as  he  deemed  prudent  and  necessary 
to  raise  the  requisite  funds.  His  efforts  were  success- 
ful, and  he  was  enabled  to  satisfy  the  creditors  without 
sacrificing  the  property.  Almighty  God  manifestly  lent 
a  blessing  to  the  good  Bishop's  conscientiousness,  for 
the  church  is  now  free  from  debt. 


386  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Bishop    Neumann    visits    Rome   and   his   Native 

Place. 

IN  October,  1854,  Bishop  Neumann  received  from  the 
Holy  Father,  Pius  IX.,  a  formal  invitation  to  the 
Eternal  City,  to  be  present  at  the  solemn  promulgation 
of  the  dogma  of  the  Immaculate  Conception  of  the 
Mother  of  God.  The  heart  of  the  holy  Bishop  beat  with 
joy.  A  devoted  client  of  the  Queen  of  Heaven,  the 
triumph  of  his  Lady  was  happiness  to  him,  and  to  be 
able  to  join  with  the  Head  of  the  Church  in  celebrating 
her  glorious  prerogative  was  a  favor  not  to  be  discarded. 
He  had,  besides,  long  desired  to  make  a  pilgrimage  to 
the  tomb  of  the  Apostles,  and  to  give  to  the  Holy  Father 
a  verbal  account  of  the  state  of  his  diocese.  The 
thought  that  his  absence  might  be  detrimental  to  his 
flock  had  made  him  waive  his  desires  on  this  head;  now, 
however,  at  the  call  of  Peter,  hesitation  vanished,  and 
he  at  once  set  about  arrangements  for  his  journey.  On 
October  2ist  he  sailed  from  New  York  in  the  steamer 
Union.  Before  his  departure  he  issued  a  Pastoral 
whose  every  word,  filled  with  unction  and  piety, 
breathes  the  sentiments  of  his  own  filial  heart  for  the 
Mother  of  God.  The  portion  relating  to  the  Immacu- 
late Conception  runs  as  follows: 

"And  since  one  of  the  principal  intentions  of  the 
reigning  Pontiff  in  proclaiming  this  jubilee  has  been  by 
means  of  your  united  suffrages  to  obtain  the  grace  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  in  giving  a  decision  on  the  subject  of 
the  Immaculate  Conception  of  the  ever-venerable  Virgin 
Mother  of  Jesus  Christ,  shall  we  not  confidently  believe 


He   Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.      387 

that  abundant  light  will  be  imparted  to  him  and  to  the 
prelates  now  convened  around  his  throne  in  the  Eternal 
City  ?  As  the  long-wished-for  day  approaches,  let  us 
pray  still  more  fervently,  attentive  to  the  invitation  of 
the  Church  we  so  often  hear,  '  Sursum  Corda!'  Let  us 
lift  up  our  hearts  in  frequent,  earnest  prayer  that  the  de- 
cision may  be  such  as  will  redound  to  the  praise  of  the 
adorable  Trinity,  the  salvation  of  man,  and  to  the  honor 
of  her  who,  next  to  God,  is  indeed  the 


Cceli  Gloria, 
Beata  Spes  Mortalium, 

the  eternal  joy  and  glory  of  the  heavens,  the  ever- 
blessed  hope  of  fallen  man.  If  such  be  the  will  of  God 
and  your  piety  deserves  it,  before  the  close  of  this  year 
we  may  hear  again  the  voice  of  Peter,  as  when  the  days 
of  Pentecost  were  accomplished,  making  known  by  the 
lips  of  Pius  IX.  to  the  assembled  representatives  of 
every  nation  under  heaven  that  from  henceforth  and 
forever  all  generations  of  true  believers  shall  invoke 
Mary,  Mother  of  God,  as  THE  EVER-IMMACULATE  VIRGIN, 

CONCEIVED    WITHOUT    STAIN    OF    ORIGINAL    SIN. 

"  Such  appears  to  be  the  expectation  of  the  whole 
Catholic  world.  The  looking  forward  for  the  'coming 
of  the  Messias,'  her  Divine  Son,  Christ  Jesus,  was  not 
more  general  in  the  time  before  His  advent  than  is  this 
universal  expectation  that  the  Vicegerent  of  that  same 
Divine  Son,  our  Holy  Father,  will  decide  that  the 
Blessed  Virgin  was  never  stained  by  original  sin;  that 
by  a  special  privilege,  which  the  Almighty  could  cer- 
tainly grant,  Mary  was  always  exempt  from  that  law 
to  which  all  the  other  children  of  Adam  are  subject; 
that,  from  the  first  moment  of  her  existence,  Mary  was 
perfect  purity  itself  in  the  sight  of  God;  and  that, 
therefore,  the  words  of  Holy  Writ  and  of  Christian 
antiquity  are  to  be  understood  in  their  literal  sense 
when  it  is  said,  'Thou  art  all-beautiful,  O  Virgin  Mary! 


388  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

and  there  is  not  a  spot  in  thee.  In  thee  no  spot  of  sin 
either  is,  or  ever  was,  or  ever  will  be.'  '  Tota pulchra  es, 
Virgo  Maria  !  et  macula  non  est  in  te;  macula  peccati  non  est 
in  te,  neque  unquam  fuit  nee  erit.' 

"  Although  the  Church  has  not  yet  declared  the  Im- 
maculate Conception  to  be  an  article  of  faith,  neverthe- 
less it  is  evident  she  cherishes  this  most  just  and  pious 
belief  with  a  loving  constancy  second  only  to  that  in- 
fallible certainty  with  which  she  maintains  the  truth  of 
all  those  doctrines  the  acceptance  of  which  is  necessary 
for  salvation.  With  a  zeal  probably  never  surpassed  in 
former  ages,  the  subject  has  been  investigated  by  many 
of  the  most  gifted  and  holy  men  now  living;  and  with 
such  a  munificent  outlay  of  ancient  and  modern  learn- 
ing, of  profound  argument  and  soul-stirring  eloquence 
have  they  treated  it,  as  to  leave  not  only  the  more  de- 
vout clients  of  Mary,  but  every  unbiassed  mind  con- 
vinced beyond  the  possibility  of  doubt,  that  if  there 
be  anything  certainly  true,  next  to  the  defined  doctrines 
of  faith,  it  is  this  apostolic  and  therefore  ancient  and 
beautiful  belief. 

"  Hence  it  is  not  surprising  that,  wherever  enlight- 
ened piety  exists,  hardly  a  moment's  hesitation  on 
this  subject  will  be  entertained.  '  Caro  Jtsu !  Caro 
Maria!' — '  The  flesh  of  Jesus  is  the  flesh  of  Mary! ' — 
they  will  at  once  exclaim  with  the  great  St.  Augustine. 
How  can  it  be  that  the  God  of  all  purity,  to  whom  even 
the  least  shadow  of  sin  is  an  object  of  eternal  abhor- 
rence, should  have  suffered  His  Virgin  Mother  to  be, 
even  for  an  instant,  such  an  object  in  His  sight  ?  From 
her  He  received  that  flesh  and  blood — that  human  na- 
ture in  which,  made  one  with  the  Divinity,  He  redeemed 
the  world:  and  can  we  believe  that  the  same  in  Mary's 
person,  in  any  possible  degree,  was  ever  sullied  by  the 
demon's  breath,  dishonored  by  the  taint  of  guilt  ?  Or, 
again,  with  St.  Cyril  the  pious  Catholic  will  ask,  'Who 
hath  ever  heard  that  an  architect  built  a  glorious  dwell- 


He    Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.     389 

ing  for  himself  and  at  once  gave  it  over  to  be  possessed 
by  his  most  cruel  and  hated  enemy?' 

"If  there  were  no  other  words  of  Holy  Writ  on  this 
topic  than  these — '  Mary,  of  whom  was  born  Jesus,  who 
is  called  Christ '  (St.  Matt.  i.  16.) — they  would  be  amply 
sufficient.  Behold  the  divine  fact  that  overthrows 
every  difficulty,  the  inspired  oracle  that  sweeps  away 
every  objection! 

"  Never,  Christian  brethren,  never  can  we  admit  that 
she  was  for  one  moment  the  slave  of  the  devil; — the 
Virgin  who  was  destined  to  be  the  Mother  of  God,  the 
Spouse  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  the  Ark  of  the  New  Covenant, 
the  Mediatrix  of  Mankind,  the  Terror  of  the  Powers  of 
Darkness,  the  Queen  of  all  the  Heavenly  Hosts. 

"Purer  than  heaven's  purest  angel,  brighter  than  its 
brightest  seraph,  Mary,  after  her  Creator,  God, — who 
made  and  gave  her  all, — is  the  most  perfect  of  beings,  the 
masterpiece  of  Infinite  Wisdom,  Almighty  Power,  and 
Eternal  Love. 

"  To  such  a  being  we  cannot  reasonably  suppose  that 
a  perfection  was  denied  which  had  been  already  gratui- 
tously bestowed  on  inferior  creatures— on  the  Angelic 
Spirits,  for  example,  some  of  whom  afterward  fell  away 
from  God  and  are  lost  forever.  And  again,  the  first 
man  and  the  first  woman  were  created  sinless — pure  as 
the  virgin  world  on  which  the  Almighty  had  just  looked 
down  with  infinite  delight  and  declared  it  to  be  'valde 
bona  ! ' — exceeding  good  !  How  just  and  natural,  therefore, 
— may  we  not  add,  how  unavoidable? — is  the  conclusion 
that  this  sublime  privilege  was  not  withheld  from  Mary, 
set  apart  as  she  was  from  all  eternity  for  an  office  and  for 
honors  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  to  which  no  other  created 
being  ever  will  or  can  be  exalted!  The  more  so  since  pro- 
found divines  do  not  hesitate  to  assert  that,  rather  than 
be  without  the  grace  conferred  upon  her  in  her  Immacu- 
late Conception,  and  thus,  though  only  for  an  instant, 
an  object  of  God's  displeasure,  Mary  would  have  pre- 


390  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

ferred  to  forfeit  forever  the  infinite  dignity  of  being 
the  Mother  of  Jesus  Christ. 

"Gladly  would  we  dwell  more  at  length  on  the  sub- 
ject, but  as  you  may  yourselves  observe  the  occasion  does 
not  allow  it.  The  few  thoughts  we  have  uttered  are  but 
the  echo  of  Christian  antiquity,  of  the  faith,  the  filial 
love,  the  confidence  in  Mary,  when  apostles  and  evange- 
lists were  still  on  earth  and  revered  her  name. 

"How  profound  should  be  our  gratitude  in  being 
able  to  say,  that  name  we  also  reverence,  their  confi- 
dence in  Mary  we  cherish,  their  filial  love  we  share, 
their  faith  is  ours!  Could  the  Martyrs  and  Virgins,  the 
heroic  confessors  of  the  faith,  the  renowned  Fathers  and 
Doctors  of  the  Church,  '  beloved  of  God  and  men,  and 
whose  memory  is  in  benediction  '  (Eccles.  xlv.) — could 
these  arise  and  unite  their  voices  to  those  of  their  suc- 
cessors now  around  the  Chair  of  Peter,  what  would  be 
their  testimony  ?  They  would  point  to  their  immortal 
writings,  and  in  the  language  of  St.  Augustine,  so  worthy 
a  representative  of  the  genius,  wisdom,  and  piety  of  the 
primitive  Church,  they  would  remind  us  that  when  they 
speak  of  the  law  by  which  all  the  children  of  Adam  are 
born  children  of  wrath,  '  they  speak  not  of  Mary ','  with  re- 
gard to  whom,  on  account  of  the  honor  due  to  our  Lord, 
when  they  discourse  of  sin  they  wish  to  raise  no  question 
whatsoever.  (Lib.  de  nat.  et  grat^]  Nay,  with  an  Amen, 
loud  as  that  which  St.  Jerome  tells  us  rolled  through  the 
magnificent  churches  of  Rome  like  the  thunder  of  hea- 
ven, they  would  respond  to  the  following  declaration  of 
the  Council  of  Trent  (Sess.  V.):  'This  Holy  Synod  de- 
clares that  it  is  not  its  intention  to  include  in  this  decree, 
where  original  sin  is  spoken  of,  the  Blessed  and  Immac- 
ulate Mother  of  God.' 

"May  the  day  soon  dawn  upon  the  world — whether  it 
be  in  our  unhappy  times  or  not — when  with  one  mind 
and  heart  Christendom  will  acknowledge  and  proclaim 
this  her  most  honorable  privilege!  Meanwhile,  submit- 


He   Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.     391 

ting  every  thought,  word,  and  wish  to  the  judgment  of 
the  Church,  we  shall  continue  to  confess  her  power,  re- 
garding Mary  as  that  'great  sign  '  which  St.  John  saw 
in  heaven — a  woman  so  resplendent  with  light,  grace, 
and  dignity  that  he  describes  her  as  'a  woman  clothed 
with  the  sun;  with  the  moon  beneath  her  feet,  and  on 
her  head  a  crown  of  twelve  stars;  whose  Son  shall  rule 
the  nations  with  an  iron  rod:  and  her  Son  was  taken  up 
to  God,  and  to  His  throne.'  (Apoc.  xii.) 

"And  should  the  Dragon  of  Impiety  spoken  of  in  the 
same  mysterious  vision,  whose  power  to  seduce  the  na- 
tions is  but  too  evident,  still  continue  to  make  war  on  God 
and  His  Church;  should  the  fearful  days  of  wide-spread 
unbelief  foretold  by  the  Apostles  prove  to  be  our  own, 
when  men  will  no  longer  endure  sound  doctrine,  but, 
according  to  their  own  .desires,  will  heap  up  to  them- 
selves teachers  having  lying  lips;  turning  away  their 
hearing  from  the  truth  to  give  heed  to  fables  ;  speaking 
proud  words  of  vain  philosophy  ;  despising  government 
and  all  majesty  ;  audacious,  self-willed;  fearing  not  to 
bring  in  sects;  promising  their  followers  liberty,  whereas 
they  themselves  are  the  slaves  of  corruption — days  of 
calamity  in  which,  the  same  inspired  teachers  warn  us, 
men  will  blaspheme  whatever  things  they  know  not, 
that  is,  the  unsearchable  ways  of  God  and  mysteries  of 
religion  ;  and  what  things  soever  they  naturally  do 
know,  in  these  they  will  be  corrupted  mockers,  mur- 
murers,  full  of  complaints,  inventors  of  evil  things;  diso- 
bedient to  parents;  without  affection,  without  fidelity; 
walking  according  to  their  own  desires  in  ungodliness; 
filled  with  avarice  and  envy;  counting  for  a  pleasure  the 
delights  of  a  day;  sporting  themselves  to  excess;  rioting 
in  their  feasts  with  you,  having  their  eyes  full  of  adul- 
tery and  never-ceasing  sin  ;  alluring  unstable  souls  who 
have  lost  their  faith  and,  leaving  the  right  way,  will  in 
the  end  discover  that  they  have  been  following  '  wander- 
ing stars  to  whom  the  storm  of  darkness  is  reserved 


392  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

forever;' — Christian  brethren,  if  these  be  the  times  in 
store  for  the  already  afflicted  Church  of  Jesus  Christ,  in 
the  midst  of  which,  with  fear  and  trembling,  we  her 
children  are  to  work  out  our  salvation,  to  whom  can  we 
turn  with  more  confidence  than  to  His  Divine  Mother, 
whom  the  Church  has  never  invoked  in  vain  ? 

"  Hail !  Holy  Queen,  Mother  of  Mercy  !  Guard  the 
kingdom  of  the  Christ-loving  Pius,  our  chief  Bishop. 
Pray  for  the  people.  Intercede  for  the  clergy.  Protect 
the  consecrated  virgins.  Unto  us  all  give  strength 
against  our  enemies  and  thine,  courage  to  the  fearful, 
joy  to  those  that  mourn,  peace  to  the  contrite  of  heart, 
perseverance  to  the  just.  Let  all  experience  thy  pro- 
tection, Virgin  and  Mother  !  through  whom  the  nations 
are  brought  to  penitence,  the  demons  are  put  to  flight, 
and  they  that  sit  in  darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death 
are  filled  with  the  knowledge  and  the  love  of  thy  Son  ! 

"Given  under  our  hand,  at  our  residence  in  Philadel- 
phia, on  the  Feast  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-four. 
"»J«JoHN  NEPOMUCENE, 

"  Bishop  of  Philadelphia:' 

The  above,  though  somewhat  lengthy,  we  have 
thought  well  to  insert  because  of  its  intrinsic  beauty,  as 
well  as  the  knowledge  it  affords  of  Bishop  Neumann's 
sentiments  on  the  question  at  issue,  the  Immaculate 
Conception  of  the  ever  Blessed  Virgin. 

After  a  rough  voyage  of  seventeen  days,  the  Bishop 
landed  safe  at  Havre  on  the  morning  of  the  yth  of  No- 
vember. Eager  to  reach  the  Eternal  City,  he  hurried  on 
to  Marseilles,  where  he  embarked  for  Civita  Vecchia. 

He  had  written  to  his  aged  father  from  Paris  to  in- 
form him  of  his  arrival  in  Europe,  and  also  of  his  inten- 
tion to  visit  him  on  his  return  from  Rome.  Great  was 
the  joy  of  that  little  household  in  Prachatitz.  Father 
and  sisters  exulted  in  the  thought  of  having  again 


He    Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.     393 

among  them,  after  an  absence  of  over  eighteen  years, 
him  who  had  left  them  under  far  different  circumstances. 
This  journey  to  Rome  furnished  an  occasion  for  old  Mr. 
Neumann  to  give  emphatic  utterance  to  his  own  stanch 
belief  in  the  doctrine  of  the  Immaculate  Conception. 
"But  why,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  "why  must  the 
Bishops  be  summoned  from  America  to  Rome  to  tell  us 
that  the  Most  Blessed  Virgin  was  conceived  without  sin  ? 
Have  we  not  always  believed  that  ?" 

While  in  Rome,  Bishop  Neumann  stayed  at  Monterone, 
a  convent  of  the  Redemptorist  Fathers,  where  his  reli- 
gious bearing  delighted  and  edified  his  brethren. 

The  Fathers  remarked  in  him  two  virtues  especially, 
viz.,  humility  and  poverty.  He  traversed  the  streets  of 
Rome  divested  of  every  external  sign  of  his  ecclesiastical 
dignity;  and,  unless  when  obliged  to  appear  in  them  at 
public  meetings  of  the  prelates,  or  when  visiting  the 
Holy  Father  and  his  cardinals,  he  never  assumed  the 
episcopal  insignia.  The  most  inclement  weather  could 
not  deter  him  from  going  on  foot,  as  he  was  unwilling 
to  incur  useless  expense.  His  extraordinary  humility 
and  poverty  often  exacted  of  him  a  solitary  walk,  as  he 
could  find  no  one  willing  to  bear  him  companionship  ; 
but,  "  never  less  alone  than  when  alone,"  the  good  Bishop 
thought  little  of  such  a  privation.  Intent  on  satisfying 
the  devotion  that  consumed  him,  he  was,  we  may  believe, 
well  pleased  to  be  allowed  to  do  so  observed  by  none 
save  God  and  His  holy  angels.  His  spirit  of  retirement 
and  mortification,  joined  to  the  strict  observance  of  the 
rules,  won  for  him  golden  opinions  among  the  inmates 
of  Monterone.  Rome  furnished  ample  food  for  his  piety. 
He  visited  the  Holy  Places,  and  gazed  upon  those  objects 
of  devotion  with  which  the  city  abounds,  as  we  have 
learned  from  his  own  words.  But,  humble  and  retired 
as  he  was,  the  saintly  Bishop  could  not  escape  notice. 
The  attention  of  the  Cardinals  and  of  the  Holy  Father 
himself  was  soon  turned  upon  him,  and  he  was  more 


394  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

than  once  summoned  to  private  audiences  with  the 
highest  dignitaries  of  the  papal  court,  who  conferred 
many  marks  of  distinction  upon  him.  When  first  pre- 
sented to  the  pope,  His  Holiness  graciously  addressed 
him  in  these  words  :  "  Bishop  Neumann  of  Philadelphia! 
Is  not  obedience  better  than  sacrifice?" — thus  recalling 
the  formal  command  he  had  received  to  accept  the 
bishopric  of  the  above-named  city.  Pius  IX.  listened 
with  interest  to  the  Bishop's  report  of  his  diocese,  gave 
some  decisions  highly  satisfactory  to  the  prelate,  and 
conferred  upon  him  numerous  privileges  and  faculties 
for  the  benefit  of  his  flock. 

Each  of  the  prelates  then  assembled  in  Rome  received 
from  the  Holy  Father  a  silver  medal  commemorative  of 
the  great  day  on  which  the  dogma  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception  was  solemnly  defined.  On  one  side  is 
an  image  of  Pope  Pius  IX.,  on  the  reverse  the  interior 
of  St.  Peter's,  representing  the  scene  in  which  the  Holy 
Father,  as  the  Vicar  of  Jesus  Christ,  surrounded  by 
Cardinals  and  Bishops,  solemnly  declared  the  Immacu- 
late Conception  of  the  Mother  of  God  to  be  an  article 
of  faith. 

In  a  letter  from  Rome  to  a  priest  in  Bohemia,  under 
date  December  17,  1854,  Bishop  Neumann  says:  "  To 
describe  the  solemnity  of  the  8th  instant  would  be 
greatly  beyond  my  power,  even  had  I  time  to  do  so. 
You  may  see  from  the  programme  enclosed  the  cere- 
monies of  that  glorious  occasion.  I  thank  God  that,  to 
the  multiplied  graces  already  bestowed  upon  me,  He 
has  added  this  of  having  been  present  in  Rome  on  that 
day." 

We  shall  now  follow  the  good  Bishop  to  the  home  of 
his  childhood,  the  little  town  of  Prachatitz,  toward  which 
filial  piety  and  fraternal  affection  drew  him.  He  set  out 
like  a  poor  religious,  pausing  on  the  way  to  satisfy  his 
devotion  at  various  places  of  religious  veneration.  A 
pilgrim  who  had  become  acquainted  with  him  in  Rome 


He   Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.      395 

met  him  again  at  Ancona,  in  the  garb  of  a  simple  cleric; 
he  was  astonished  at  the  plainness  exhibited  in  his  dress 
and  in  his  whole  manner  of  living.  This  careful  con- 
cealment of  everything  that  could  betray  his  rank 
caused  the  Bishop  no  little  inconvenience  on  one  occa- 
sion. He  was  travelling  through  Austria.  One  night 
whilst  riding  in  a  stage-coach,  a  gendarme  demanded 
their  passports  of  the  passengers.  The  Bishop  produced 
his;  but  as  it  was  in  English,  with  which  language  the  offi- 
cial was  unfamiliar,  he  refused  to  receive  it.  Despite  the 
cold  and  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  for  it  was  night,  he 
ordered  the  Bishop  to  follow  him  on  foot  to  the  next 
station.  The  snow  lay  deep  on  the  ground;  so,  to 
escape  this  unpleasant  alternative,  the  Bishop  had  no 
other  resource  than  to  produce  his  episcopal  cross  and 
ring.  At  sight  of  these  the  gendarme  was  satisfied  and 
withdrew  without  further  remark. 

Bishop  Neumann's  profound  reverence  for  the  mystery 
of  the  Incarnation  and  his  ardent  love  for  the  Infant 
Jesus  drew  him  to  the  Holy  House  of  Loretto.  With 
indescribable  devotion  he  offered  here  the  Holy  Sacri- 
fice, and  placed  in  Mary's  hands  his  hopes,  his  desires, 
and  his  intentions. 

On  reaching  Vienna  he  visited  his  former  fellow-stu- 
dent, Rev.  Adalbert  Schmid,  who  had  for  many  years 
been  discharging  the  functions  of  the  priestly  office  in 
the  seminary  of  Graz,  Styria.  Several  days  were  here 
spent,  the  two  friends  renewing  the  sweet  ties  of  friend- 
ship formed  long  ago  in  early  youth,  and  communicating 
to  each  other  the  joys  and  sorrows  that  marked  the  life 
of  each  in  that  long  separation  of  eighteen  years. 

Whilst  in  Vienna,  Bishop  Neumann  tarried  some  days 
with  his  brethren  in  their  convent  of  "Maria  Stiegen." 
On  Saturday  he  preached  a  moving  discourse  on  devo- 
tion to  the  Mother  of  God  and  her  high  prerogatives, 
dwelling  especially  upon  her  Immaculate  Conception. 
His  animation  and  fervor,  his  lively  faith  and.  childlike 


396  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

love  toward  the  Queen  of  Heaven,  deeply  impressed  his 
hearers. 

On  his  journey  to  Vienna  the  Bishop  lost  a  small 
trunk,  containing  all  the  relics  he  had  procured,  not 
without  considerable  trouble,  in  Rome,  Loretto,  and 
other  places.  The  loss  was  a  grievous  one  to  him.  He 
telegraphed  to  every  station  at  which  there  was  any 
likelihood  of  its  having  been  left,  but  from  all  he 
received  the  same  return  :  "  No  trunk  of  that  description 
here."  Deeply  lamenting  the  loss  of  his  sacred  treas- 
ures, the  Bishop  paced  up  and  down  the  railway  station, 
reflecting  upon  some  means  of  obtaining  a  clue  to  their 
whereabouts.  Suddenly  he  remembered  St.  Anthony 
of  Padua.  He  vowed  to  say  Mass  the  next  day  in  his 
honor,  and,  if  put  in  possession  of  the  missing  property, 
to  expose  the  picture  of  the  saint  to  public  veneration 
in  one  of  the  churches  of  his  diocese.  Scarcely  was  the 
vow  uttered,  when  a  young  man  approached  and  accosted 
him  :  "  Right  Reverend  Bishop,  here  is  your  trunk." 
With  an  exclamation  of  glad  surprise,  the  Bishop  gazed 
at  the  object  of  his  anxious  search,  as  if  to  assure  him- 
self of  its  identity,  whilst  the  thought  flashed  through 
his  mind,  How  did  the  stranger  know  that  he  was  a 
Bishop,  since  nothing  in  his  dress  indicated  his  rank? 
He  raised  his  eyes  to  question  the -youth,  but,  lo!  he 
was  gone.  He  looked  right  and  left,  but  nowhere  was 
he  to  be  seen;  he  had  disappeared  as  suddenly  as  he 
had  come.  With  a  heart  full  of  thanksgiving  for  this 
miraculous  intervention  of  the  saint,  the  Bishop  fulfilled 
his  vow.  The  full-length  portrait  of  the  saint  which  he 
had  painted  on  this  occasion  may  still  be  seen  in  what 
was  once  the  Cathedral  Chapel,  Philadelphia.  It  occu- 
pies the  same  position  as  during  the  Bishop's  lifetime. 

From  Vienna  the  Bishop  pursued  his  way  to  Prague, 
where  he  visited  his  sister  Johanna,  who  for  the  last 
fourteen  years  had  led  the  religious  life  among  the 
Sisters  of  Charity  of  St.  Charles  Borromeo.  Her  name 


He    Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.      397 

in  religion  was  Sister  Mary  Caroline.  This  was  indeed 
a  joyful  meeting.  Sister  Mary  Caroline  was  next  in  age 
to  her  holy  brother,  and  similarity  of  vocation  had 
strengthened  the  bonds  of  family  affection  between 
them.  The  Bishop  visited  the  churches  of  Prague  on 
foot  in  order  to  venerate  the  relics  of  the  saints,  in  which 
the  city  is  rich.  His  friend  Rev.  Hermann  Dichtl  intro- 
duced him  to  the  pious  Emperor  Ferdinand,  who  re- 
ceived him  cordially  and  invited  him  to  the  imperial 
table.  The  most  welcome  part  of  the  entertainment 
was  the  dessert,  at  which  the  Emperor  caused  a  hand- 
some sum,  all  in  the  gold  coin  of  the  United  States,  to 
be  laid  on  a  plate  and  presented  to  the  Bishop,  as  an 
offering  toward  his  new  Cathedral. 

At  Budweis,  the  episcopal  see  of  his  native  place, 
Bishop  Neumann  was  hospitably  received  by  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  Valentine  lirsik,  who  took  a  lively  interest  in  all 
that  concerned  the  diocese  of  Philadelphia.  Here  our 
traveller  stayed  some  days.  One  morning  he  unexpect- 
edly informed  his  host  of  his  intention  to  depart  the 
next  hour  for  Prachatitz,  his  native  city.  Bishop  lirsik 
surprised  at  the  announcement,  inquired  his  reasons  for 
so  sudden  a  departure.  "  I  wish  to  enter  Prachatitz  un- 
noticed," answered  his  guest.  The  humble  Bishop,  by 
forestalling  the  time  of  his  arrival,  wished  to  make  any- 
thing like  a  public  reception  impossible.  Bishop  Valen- 
tine urged  him  to  defer  his  departure  for  some  days,  at 
least;  but,  finding  him  resolved  upon  starting  at  once, 
he  begged  him  to  accept  the  use  of  his  carriage.  This, 
too,  the  lowly  follower  of  a  lowly  Saviour  declined,  say- 
ing playfully,  "  Every  child  on  the  road  might  then  cry 
out,  'There  goes  the  Bishop  of  Budweis!  " 

On  February  2d,  shortly  after  dinner,  he  left  Budweis 
in  a  close  sleigh,  expecting  to  reach  his  home  unnoticed 
and  take  his  family  by  surprise  that  evening.  Not  so, 
however,  reckoned  the  good  people  of  Prachatitz.  They 
had  resolved  upon  receiving  the  Bishop  of  Philadelphia 


398  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

in  grand  style,  and  they  were  not  to  be  defeated  in  their 
design.  Aware  of  his  great  humility,  they  instinctively 
knew  that  their  looked-for  guest  would  endeavor  to 
shun  any  demonstration  in  his  honor,  and  they  had, 
accordingly,  provided  for  such  a  contingency.  One  of 
their  number  had  been  appointed  to  take  notes  at  Bud- 
weis,  and  to  find  out  the  exact  time  of  the  Bishop's  de- 
parture for  Prachatitz.  No  sooner  had  good  Adalbert 
Benesch,  the  messenger  in  question,  obtained  the  de- 
sired information,  than  he  set  out  on  foot  and,  in  true 
courier  fashion,  announced  at  every  house  on  the  road 
that  Bishop  Neumann  would  soon  pass  that  way. 

Alas  for  the  poor  Bishop!  His  well-arranged  plans  were 
all  frustrated.  Scarcely  was  he  well  on  his  journey, 
when  out  flocked  whole  families  to  receive  the  episcopal 
blessing.  In  the  little  town  of  Nettolitz,  midway  be- 
tween Budweis  and  Prachatitz,  the  humility  of  the 
Bishop  met  a  still  greater  shock.  When  the  sleigh  came 
in  sight,  the  bells  of  the  town  rang  out  a  peal  of  wel- 
come, and  all  the  good  folks,  the  clergy  at  their  head, 
turned  out  in  procession  and  escorted  him  to  the 
church.  Here  he  gave  them  his  episcopal  benediction 
and  addressed  to  them  a  few  words.  How  was  his 
arrival  known  ?  what  did  it  all  mean  ?  were  questions 
that  puzzled  the  disappointed  traveller.  They  were 
soon  solved;  and  great  was  his  dread  that  all  his  care 
to  enter  Prachatitz  quietly  would  meet  with  a  simi- 
lar result.  "Ah!"  said  he  to  his  young  nephew,  who 
had  gone  forward  to  meet  him;  "we  must  try  to 
slip  out  of  this  place  as  quietly  as  possible.  If  they  find 
out  that  we  are  going,  they  will  pass  the  word  to  Pra- 
chatitz, and  all  our  plans  will  be  vain.  Let  us  send 
the  sleigh  back  to  Budweis,  and  walk  the  rest  of  the 
way.  It  is  only  a  journey  of  three  hours.  I  know  the 
road  well.  Many  a  time  I  travelled  it  when  a  student. 
We  can  enter  the  city  in  a  direction  opposite  that  by 
which  they  will  expect  us." 


He   Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.      399 

Scarcely  were  the  words  uttered,  when  the  clergy  and 
town  officials  gathered  around  him,  begging  him  not  to 
refuse  them  the  honor  of  remaining  till  the  next  morn- 
ing. The  Bishop,  thus  urged,  was  forced  to  yield.  He 
remained,  celebrated  Mass  in  the  parish  church  at  eight 
o'clock,  and  by  half-past  nine  was  ready  to  depart.  The 
large  square  before  the  church  was  crowded  by  those 
who  had  come  to  see  the  Bishop  and  receive  his  blessing. 
At  last,  amid  hearty  cheers  and  the  ringing  of  bells,  he 
escaped  from  their  noisy  adieus.  "Alas!"  sighed  he, 
"  what  have  these  good  people  done  ?  May  God  forgive 
them  for  having  led  me  into  the  temptation  of  vanity!" 
The  crowds  that  surrounded  him  at  the  moment  of  start- 
ing prevented  his  noticing  that,  instead  of  the  ordinary 
sleigh  in  which  he  had  come,  the  magnificent  equipage 
of  the  Prince  of  Schwarzenberg  had  been  substituted. 
The  Prince  had  given  orders  to  his  steward  to  offer  his 
own  sleigh  for  Bishop  Neumann's  accommodation  as 
far  as  Prachatitz.  True  to  his  character,  the  Bishop 
shrank  from  such  a  display,  and  declined  with  expres- 
sions of  gratitude  and  appreciation  the  kind  offer  of  the 
Prince.  The  steward,  however,  was  not  to  be  baffled. 
He  gave  orders  for  the  sleigh  to  be  kept  in  readiness  for 
the  Bishop  and  his  nephew;  and  long  before  the  ap- 
pointed hour,  with  its  four  spirited  horses  and  liveried 
attendants,  it  took  up  a  position  so  near  to  the  pastor's 
residence  that  the  Bishop's  poor  equipage  could  not 
approach. 

Lightly  they  bounded  over  the  crisp  snow  in  the 
direction  of  Prachatitz  amid  the  pealing  of  bells  and 
the  firing  of  signal-guns.  Clerics,  town-officials,  and 
private  citizens,  in  sleighs,  met  them  at  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  town,  and  welcomed  the  Bishop  in 
the  name  of  the  city.  After  the  ceremony  of  kissing 
the  episcopal  ring,  the  sleighs  moved  on  in  proces- 
sion. At  the  little  village  called  Old  Prachatitz  a 
crowd  had  assembled.  The  civic  guard,  headed  by  a 


400  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

magnificent  band,  stood  in  line  on  both  sides  of  the 
street,  and,  when  the  Bishop  approached,  saluted  him 
with  military  honors.  The  drums  sounded,  the  musi- 
cians united  in  one  grand  chorus,  and  the  cheers  of  the 
multitude  rent  the  air.  After  this  demonstration  the 
band  struck  up  a  lively  march,  the  city  bells  began  to 
ring,  and  the  procession  moved  forward.  The  scene 
was  one  of  triumph.  It  was  a  reception  such  as  might 
have  been  extended  to  a  conqueror  returning  with  well- 
earned  laurels. 

The  ancient  city-gate  was  richly  decorated  with  ap- 
propriate emblems  and  inscriptions,  conspicuous  among 
them  the  episcopal  insignia.  Was  it  through  this  same 
old  gateway,  eighteen  years  before,  that,  as  a  young  man, 
he  whom  we  have  followed  with  so  much  interest  had 
passed  at  the  call  of  God  ?  Friendless,  companionless, 
almost  penniless,  he  had  gone  to  battle  for  the  cause  of 
God,  to  win  numberless  victories  over  the  powers  of 
darkness,  and  to  snatch  myriads  of  souls  from  the 
enemy's  grasp.  And  this  return,  this  ovation  despite 
his  own  efforts  at  concealment — surely,  the  judgments 
of  the  Lord  are  incomprehensible  and  His  ways  past 
finding  out! 

On  entering  the  city,  the  Bishop  was  greeted  by  the 
imperial  officers  ranged  on  either  side  of  the  gate- 
way, whilst  the  street,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  was 
lined  with  people  who  knelt  devoutly  as  he  passed. 
Next  came  the  children  of  the  schools  to  welcome  him 
in  a  short  address;  and  then  followed  the  Dean,  Rev. 
Father  Fucik,  surrounded  by  the  clergy.  The  Bishop 
was  conducted  to  the  church,  where,  before  the  high 
altar,  was  intoned  a  solemn  Te  Deum,  which  the  choir 
and  orchestra  continued.  What  were  the  Bishop's  emo- 
tions as  he  knelt  before  that  altar  where  eighteen  years 
before,  February  9,  1836,  he  had  prayed  God  in  the  Holy 
Eucharist  to  help  and  guide  him  in  his  new  career!  Ilis 
heart  overflowed  with  love  and  gratitude  at  the  thought 


He    Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.     401 

of  the  innumerable  blessings  showered  upon  him.  He 
arose  and,  ascending  the  steps  of  the  sanctuary,  ad- 
dressed the  crowd  in  stirring  accents.  He  told  them  of 
the  mercies  of  the  Lord  during  the  past  eighteen  years,  of 
the  work  of  God  in  the  far-off  land  from  which  he  had 
come;  and  he  referred  all  the  glory  to  the  Most  High, 
who  had  led  him  back  once  more  to  his  native  place. 
He  thanked  his  fellow-citizens  for  their  gracious  recep- 
tion; by  their  zeal  to  honor  the  episcopal  dignity  in  his 
person  they  evinced,  he  said,  their  love  for  Holy  Church 
and  for  her  Founder,  Jesus  Christ.  After  these  and 
other  remarks  of  a  like  nature,  the  Bishop  gave  the  as- 
sembled multitude  his  solemn  benediction. 

And  now  drew  near  the  moment  for  the  meeting  be- 
tween the  saintly  son  and  the  venerable  father.  His 
advanced  age  and  the  unfavorable  weather  prevented 
Mr.  Neumann's  leaving  the  house.  The  Bishop  had 
received  an  invitation  to  make  the  deanery  his  home 
during  his  stay  in  Prachatitz;  but  this  he  thankfully  de- 
clined. "  The  few  days  of  my  stay  in  my  native  place," 
he  said,  "  I  must  spend  with  my  old  father.  Filial  affec- 
tion exacts  this  of  me."  In  the  same  spirit  he  refused, 
also,  to  enter  the  Prince's  sleigh  again.  He  was  as  well 
able  now  to  go  on  foot  to  his  father's  house  as  he  was  in 
his  youth,  he  said;  and  so  he  set  out  surrounded  by 
priests  and  officials. 

A  vast  crowd  had  already  assembled  around  Mr.  Neu- 
mann's dwelling,  eager  to  witness  the  meeting  between 
father  and  son.  The  hum  of  voices  gradually  died  away 
as  the  Bishop  drew  near;  silence  reigned  throughout  the 
crowd,  and  all  eyes  turned  in  fixed  attention  to  the 
venerable  figure  standing  in  trembling  expectancy  in  the 
doorway.  One  moment,  and  the  long-absent  son  is 
clasped  to  the  father's  heart!  Tears  bedewed  every 
cheek,  and  words  of  thanksgiving  arose  on  all  sides  for 
this  happy  reunion,  this  foretaste  of  eternal  bliss.  One 
of  the  bystanders  exclaimed,  "Oh,  that  his  mother  were 


402  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

alive  to  share  in  this  happiness!"  To  which  the  Bishop 
quickly  replied:  "She  sees  us,  she  sees  us!  My  good 
mother  is  looking  down  upon  us;  she  is  rejoicing  with  us." 

The  Bishop,  narrating  this  circumstance  afterward, 
remarked:  "  My  good  old  father  actually  bore  me  in  his 
arms  up  the  stairs.  My  feet  never  once  touched  the 
steps." 

Relatives  and  friends  and  the  companions  of  his  youth 
pressed  around  to  kiss  his  hand  and  receive  his  blessing. 
It  was  long  past  noon,  and  still,  despite  the  cold,  hun- 
dreds besieged  the  house  eager  to  approach  the  man  of 
God.  At  last,  Mr.  Neumann,  seeing  no  other  way  of 
procuring  for  his  son  the  rest  and  refreshment  he  so 
greatly  needed,  ordered  the  doors  to  be  closed,  and 
begged  him  to  dismiss  the  crowd  with  a  blessing  from 
the  window.  But  not  even  this  could  induce  the  good 
people  to  disperse,  so  great  was  their  fear  of  losing  an 
opportunity  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  him  of  whom  they 
were  so  justly  proud.  Crowds  came  and  went  from 
early. morn  till  late  at  night  during  those  six  days  of  his 
stay  in  Prachatitz.  People  flocked  from  the  country 
around  to  see  the  Bishop  from  America  and  to  get  his 
blessing.  Indeed,  so  great  was  the  concourse  that  the 
good  Bishop's  safety  was,  at  times,  endangered.  Strong 
arms  had  to  be  stretched  forth  to  protect  him  from  the 
eagerness  of  indiscreet  admirers  who,  unmindful  of  all 
save  the  gratification  of  their  own  desires,  stumbled  over 
chairs  and  upset  tables,  in  their  onward  course.  This  ac- 
count may  to  some  wear  the  semblance  of  exaggeration; 
but  when  we  reflect  that  Bishop  Neumann's  reputation 
for  holiness  had  long  before  spread  among  those  who 
had  known  him  in  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  who,  in 
turn,  transmitted  their  knowledge  to  their  children,  we 
shall  readily  comprehend  why  they  flocked  in  crowds  to 
receive  his  blessing  and  some  pious  token  of  remem- 
brance from  his  hand.  There  he  stood,  calm,  meek, 
recollected  amidst  the  honors  heaped  upon  him,  affable 


He    Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.     403 

and  kind  to  all.  Not  one  went  away  disappointed.  All 
without  exception  were  allowed  to  kiss  his  hand,  receiv- 
ing from  him  at  the  same  moment  a  medal  of  the  Im- 
maculate Conception,  a  picture,  or  a  rosary. 

Every  morning  at  eight  o'clock  he  said  Mass  in  the 
parish  church,  which  was  crowded  as  on  a  grand 
festival.  On  Sunday,  moreover,  he  assisted  at  the  High 
Mass  and  preached,  we  may  say,  to  the  entire  city,  for 
all  turned  out  to  hear  him.  In  burning  and  convincing 
words  he  addressed  his  hearers  upon  the  inestimable 
benefits  bestowed  upon  us  by  our  holy  faith,  and  of  our 
strict  obligation  to  live  in  accordance  with  it.  His 
apostolic  zeal  and  unfeigned  humility  produced  a  power- 
ful impression.  Years  have  passed  since  that  memo- 
rable visit  to  Prachatitz,  and  yet  the  words  he  then 
uttered  still  live  in  the  memory  of  many  of  his  hearers. 
The  negligent,  who  rarely  darkened  the  church-door, 
went  on  that  occasion  through  a  motive  of  curiosity; 
but,  as  they  afterward  acknowledged,  the  earnest  words 
of  the  saintly  Bishop  powerfully  stimulated  them  to  a 
more  fervent  Christian  life.  A  famous  scoffer  at  religion 
was  among  the  number  who  listened  to  the  apostolic 
Bishop.  After  the  sermon  he  remarked,  "Ah!  were  I 
often  to  hear  that  Bishop,  I  feel  that,  whether  or  not,  I 
should  have  to  be  converted." 

On  the  second  day  of  his  stay  in  Prachatitz  a  formal 
reception  was  tendered  him  in  the  town-hall.  The  most 
spacious  apartment  was  tastefully  decorated  for  the 
occasion  with  festive  wreaths,  inscriptions,  and  the 
episcopal  insignia.  The  orchestra  executed  several  fine 
pieces  composed  expressly  for  the  occasion;  the  imperial 
and  the  civil  officials  addressed  the  Bishop  in  befitting 
terms  expressive  of  their  appreciation  of  the  honor 
conferred  on  their  city  by  his  visit.  After  this,  a  little 
girl  in  white  stepped  forward  and,  in  a  short  address, 
presented  the  Bishop,  in  the  name  of  the  citizens  of 
Prachatitz,  a  magnificent  album. 


404  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

The  album  was  of  Parisian  make,  artistically  bound 
in  different  kinds  of  foreign  wood.  It  had  been  ordered 
for  this  joyous  occasion.  On  the  first  three  leaves,  in 
illuminated  colors  and  gold,  is  the  dedication  of  the 
memorial;  then  follows  a  poem  with  the  autograph  sig- 
nature,s  of  the  most  prominent  citizens.  We  subjoin  a 
translation  of  both,  though  we  warn  the  reader  not  to 
judge  the  original  by  it.  The  harmony  and  flow  of  the 
German  rhythm  can  ill  be  reproduced  in  English. 

A  To  His  Lordship  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop 

JOHN  NEPOMUCENE  NEUMANN, 

Bishop  of  Philadelphia,  etc., 

The  best  of  sons,  the  pride  and  honor  of  his  native 
place,  this  memorial  is  respectfully  dedicated,  as  a 
slight  token  of  esteem,  by  the  representatives  of  the  city 
in  commemoration  of  his  happy  return  to  the  home  of 
his  infancy,  and  in  memory  of  his  departure  thence. 

"  PRACHATITZ,  the  year  of  our  Lord  1855. 

"  God  hath  not  given  thee  in  vain 

A  noble  soul,  a  spirit  choice. 
Regardless  of  all  toil  and  pain, 

Go  forth,  obedient  to  His  voice  ! 
For  thou  hast  heard  the  call  divine 

Unto  a  life  of  toil  and  care  ; 
But,  fired  with  love,  that  soul  of  thine 

Shrinks  not  to  labor  everywhere. 
Like  to  the  fishermen  of  old, 

Obedient  to  the  Master's  call, 
With  hearts  sincere,  with  spirits  bold, 

Who  left  their  nets,  who  gave  their  all, 
Thou,  too,  hast  gladly  cast  aside 

The  glittering  fetters  of  the  heart 
And  all  that  flatters  human  pride, 

To  choose  the  nobler,  '  better  part.' 
Led  on  by  God's  protecting  hand, 

Across  Atlantic's  billows  far, 
Unto  a  strange,  benighted  land, 

The  holy  cross,  thy  guiding  star, 


He   Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.     405 

That  standard  of  our  saving  faith, 

In  triumph  there  thou  didst  display — 
Thou'lt  grasp  it  faithful  unto  death, 

Loyal  and  true  thou'lt  own  its  sway. 
Thy  God  watched  o'er  thee  when  alone 

On  arid  plain,  in  forest  dim, 
Where  thou  the  seed  of  faith  hath  sown, 

And  nourished  well  for  love  of  Him, 
Who  well  repaid  thy  toil  and  pain, 

Since  thou  didst  labor  for  thy  God; — 
Lo  !  it  sprang  up  as  golden  grain. 

And  idols  sank  beneath  the  sod. 
Because  a  faithful  servant  thou 

In  lesser  things  hath  been,  thy  Lord 
Hath  set  thee  over  greater  now, 

And  glorious  shall  be  thy  reward. 
Hail,  faithful  shepherd  !  to  thy  fame 

Thy  Lord  hath  added  honors  new, 
Far,  far  beyond  all  earthly  claim, 

Rich  guerdon  of  the  '  chosen  few.' 
Off  in  the  West,  where  thy  flock  feeds, 

The  Lord  of  Hosts  bestowed  on  thee, 
For  noble  acts,  heroic  deeds, 

In  Holy  Church  high  dignity. 
Thee  hath  the  Lord  most  kindly  led 

To  view  once  more  thy  childhood's  home, 
To  greet  loved  friends,  whose  hearts  oft  sped 

In  anxious  thought  where  thou  didst  roam. 
O'er  prairies  vast,  through  forests  grand 

That  teem  with  Nature's  riches  rare, — 
Yes,  in  that  strange  and  distant  land 

Our  spirit  traced  thee  everywhere. 
Permit  us,  then,  most  honored  guest, 

Our  welcomes  at  thy  feet  to  lay, 
By  which  the  joy  that  swells  our  breast 

In  trembling  accents  we  would  say. 
Accept  the  heart-felt  salutation, 

Feeble  though  the  tribute  be, — 
Accept  the  love  and  veneration 

Thy  native  city  brings  to  thee  ! 
And,  noblest  of  her  sons  and  best, 

Whose  virtues  magnify  her  fame, 


406  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

List  graciously  to  our  request: 

When'er  thy  glance  rests  on  these  names, 
Think  kindly  of  thy  home  of  yore. 
May  God  be  with  thee  evermore  ! 

Amen." 

The  presentation  over,  the  Bishop  arose  and  expressed 
his  gratitude  for  these  reiterated  proofs  of  affection  from 
his  fellow-citizens.  It  was  his  most  earnest  desire,  he 
said,  and  he  would  ever  pray  God  for  its  fulfilment,  to 
see  them  remain  true  and  faithful  children  of  Holy 
Mother  Church.  He  rejoiced  that  this  opportunity  had 
been  afforded  him  to  give  utterance  in  their  pres- 
ence to  his  heart-felt  appreciation  of  the  pious  Christian 
education  that  had  been  bestowed  upon  him  by  his 
worthy  parents,  one  of  whom  was  now  enjoying  the  re- 
ward of  the  same  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  To  Rev. 
Peter  Schmidt,  also,  he  tendered  his  sincere  thanks, 
since  to  him,  as  Catechist  and  Director,  he  felt  chiefly 
indebted  for  his  present  position  in  the  sacred  hierarchy. 

One  afternoon  was  devoted  to  his  relatives.  They  were 
overjoyed  at  being  allowed  to  entertain  their  honored 
kinsman  as  a  guest  in  their  own  homes.  Those  eighteen 
years  of  absence,  we  may  well  believe,  had  wrought  their 
own  changes  around  those  firesides.  Many  who  had 
presided  there  in  the  Bishop's  time  were  now  resting 
peacefully  in  the  little  cemetery  outside  the  city;  and 
many  others,  the  little  ones  of  long  ago,  had  grown  up 
to  take  their  place.  They,  too,  knew  their  saintly  rela- 
tive through  the  oft-told  tales  of  the  elders,  and  npw 
that  he  stood  before  them,  his  unaffected  kindness  and 
affability  won  all  hearts. 

The  next  visit  was  to  the  hallowed  home  of  the  dead, 
the  resting-place  of  the  loved  and  lost,  among  them  the 
Bishop's  own  noble,  true-hearted  mother.  She  it  was 
whose  lively  faith,  firm  trust  in  Divine  Providence,  and 
deep  love  for  her  gifted  boy  had  made  him  what  he  now 
was.  The  distance  was  great,  the  weather  inclement; 


He   Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.     407 

but  go  he  must,  and  on  foot,  too,  to  kneel  at  the  spot  so 
sacred  to  him,  the  grave  of  that  venerated  mother.  And 
long  did  he  kneel  in  earnest  prayer,  his  soul  communing 
with  the  spirit  of  the  loved  departed.  Slowly  he  passed 
from  mound  to  mound.  Those  eighteen  years  had  dotted 
that  little  enclosure  with  many  a  stone  and  cross  unseen 
before. 

Strangers  came,  priests  and  friends  from  a  distance,  to 
pay  their  respects  to  Bishop  Neumann.  The  thought  of 
the  episcopal  dignity  with  which  he  was  clothed  some- 
what overawed  them  at  first;  but  his  humble  demeanor, 
his  frank  and  cordial  manners,  quickly  dispelled  all  feel- 
ings of  embarrassment,  and  the  most  shrinking  entered 
freely  into  the  general  joy.  The  respectful  attention 
with  which  every  word  the  prelate  uttered  was  received 
was  something  remarkable.  But  in  vain  did  they  listen 
to  catch  some  word  connected  with  his  own  labors,  when 
he  spoke  of  affairs  in  America.  Not  one  word  about 
himself.  If,  at  times,  some  such  allusion  in  passing  was 
unavoidable,  it  was  always  accompanied  by  a  word  of 
disparagement;  for  instance,  he  often  reverted  to  the 
equestrian  adventures,  recorded  in  one  of  our  first  chap- 
ters, that  betrayed  his  own  unskilful  horsemanship. 
When  one  of  his  visitors  remarked  to  him  that  Prachatitz 
could  lay  claim  to  many  distinguished  men,  but  that  he 
was  the  first  Bishop  of  whom  it  could  boast,  he  replied, 
"  If  any  priest  had  accompanied  me  to  America,  he 
would,  without  doubt,  have  been  made  Bishop  instead  of 
me."  Another  remark  of  similar  import  was  met  with 
the  laughing  rejoinder,  "  Oh,  even  a  blind  hen  will  some- 
times find  a  grain  of  corn  !" 

The  good  people  of  Prachatitz  delight  in  their  social 
gatherings,  even  at  the  present  day,  to  recall  expressions 
heard  from  the  Bishop's  lips,  and  which  only  his  un- 
feigned humility  could  have  made  him  utter.  One  day 
he  was  engaged  to  dine  with  a  Mr.  Spinka.  The  hospitable 
host  noticed  that  his  honored  guest  was  not  doing  justice 


408  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

to  the  choice  viands  before  him,  that,  in  fact,  he  had  not 
even  touched  some  of  them.  Mr.  Spinka  made  use  of 
the  rights  of  hospitality  and  urged  him  to  taste,  at  least, 
of  the  various  dishes.  The  Bishop  complied  with  his 
customary  affability,  but  said  with  a  smile,  "  Mr.  Spinka, 
do  you  want  me  to  earn  a  long  purgatory  for  myself  at 
your  grand  dinner  ?" 

Six  days  had  quickly  sped,  and  this  memorable  visit 
was  drawing  to  a  close.  February  gth  was  the  day  ap- 
pointed for  his  departure,  but  the  Bishop  wished  it  to  be 
kept  secret  for  two  reasons:  first,  to  escape  the  demon- 
strations that  would  certainly  attend  a  public  farewell; 
and  secondly,  to  spare  himself  and  his  friends  the  mutual 
pain  of  leave-taking,  for  the  ties  of  nature  held  strong 
sway  in  his  loyal  heart.  Grown  wary  from  experience, 
perhaps,  he  was  more  successful  in  this  than  in  his  pre- 
ceding ptens;  he  managed  things  so  cleverly  that  not 
even  his  nearest  relatives  suspected  his  intention.  Late 
on  the  evening  of  February  8th  he  ordered  through  one 
of  the  clergy,  whom  he  had  bound  to  secrecy,  a  sleigh 
for  the  next  morning;  but  with  all  his  precaution  he  could 
not  prevent  the  members  of  his  father's  household  from 
having  some  inkling  of  his  design.  And  now  arose  a 
storm  of  questions  and  remonstrances.  His  aged  father 
joined  with  the  rest  of  the  family  in  begging  him  to 
defer  his  departure,  if  only  for  a  few  hours;  but  no — he 
must  go.  Gently  and  lovingly  he  reasoned  with  the 
good  old  gentleman,  arguing  that  he  could  not  in  con- 
science remain  longer,  that  duty  called  him  back  to  his 
diocese.  At  last  Mr.  Neumann  yielded  to  his  son's  ar- 
guments and  consented  to  see  him  depart.  Before  day- 
break, therefore,  on  the  appointed  day,  February  pth, 
Bishop  Neumann,  quietly  and  unobserved,  left  his  fath- 
er's house,  accompanied  by  his  friend  Rev.  Joseph  Brun- 
ner,  who  had  faithfully  kept  the  secret  confided  to 
him. 

On  reaching  the   parish  church — that  church  around 


He   Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.     409 

which  clustered  tender  recollections  of  childhood  and 
boyhood — he  alighted  from  the  sleigh  to  kneel  for  some 
moments  before  its  closed  doors.  Then  rising  with  a 
swelling  heart,  he  left  his  home  for  the  second  time,  and 
this  time  forever. 

The  morning  dawn,  as  usual,  brought  a  crowd  before 
the  dwelling  of  the  Neumann  family,  all  anxious  to  see 
and  speak  with  the  Bishop;  and  at  eight  o'clock  the 
church  was  filled,  as  on  the  preceding  days,  with  devout 
worshippers  expecting  to  hear  his  Mass.  Great  was  the 
general  disappointment  and  dismay  when  the  news 
spread  that  Bishop  Neumann  had  left  the  city  before 
daybreak. 

Rev.  Father  Brunner  afterward  related  many  incidents 
connected  with  this  secret  departure.  The  Bishop,  he 
said,  restrained  his  feelings  not  without  difficulty.  When 
the  sleigh  reached  the  mountain- ridge  whence  a  view  of 
the  little  city  could  be  had,  he  turned  to  take  a  farewell 
glance  at  its  familiar  scenes,  at  his  father's  house,  and 
the  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks.  A  four  hours'  ride 
brought  them  to  the  celebrated  shrine  of  Gojau,  to 
which,  it  will  be  remembered,  he  had  made  a  pilgrimage 
before  setting  out  the  first  time  for  America.  Here  he 
said  Mass.  In  a  letter  to  his  father  he  speaks  as  follows: 

"On  February  Qth,  four  hours  after  our  separation,  I 
said  Mass  in  Gojau  with  the  intention  of  drawing  down 
the  protection  of  God  on  my  homeward  journey.  I  then 
visited  the  Right  Reverend  Prelate  in  Krumau,  and  met 
several  of  our  relatives  and  some  of  my  old  fellow-stu- 
dents. The  Bishop  of  Budweis  had  repeatedly  enter- 
tained me  with  generous  hospitality  and  more  than  fra- 
ternal charity.  I  called  on  him  and  bade  him  good-by, 
as  I  intended  to  be  at  the  collegiate  church  in  Hohen- 
furt  on  the  i4th,  where  the  Prelate  was  to  celebrate  his 
patronal  feast." 

To  be  able  thus  to  return  thanks  in  person  to  his 
former  professors  at  the  Cistercian  college  for  the  favors 


410  Life  of  Bishop  Ne2imann. 

and  benefits  received  from  them  in  his  student-days  was 
a  great  satisfaction  to  Bishop  Neumann.  He  had  re- 
ceived through  Rev.  Waldemar  Wiesner,  a  native  of 
Prachatitz,  an  invitation  to  visit  the  venerable  monks. 
It  was  a  pleasure  for  him  to  accept,  and,  in  order  to  give 
a  more  lively  expression  to  his  gratitude,  he  chose,  as  he 
tells  us  in  his  letter,  the  reverend  prelate's  feast-day  for 
his  visit.  The  secretary  of  the  institute,  Mr.  Leopold 
Wackar,  also  a  native  of  Prachatitz,  rode  as  far  as  Kap- 
litz,  a  distance  of  twenty  miles,  to  meet  and  escort  him 
to  Hohenfurt,  where  he  received  a  most  cordial  reception. 
Here  he  spent  two  days  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  both 
professors  and  people.  Thence  his  journey  led  through 
Linz  to  Alt-Oetting.  A  violent  snow-storm  had  ren- 
dered the  road  through  the  Bohemian  forest  almost  im- 
passable, even  dangerous  in  some  places.  The  right 
reverend  prelate  tried  to  persuade  him  to  defer  his  de- 
parture for  a  few  days,  but  Bishop  Neumann,  believing 
that  he  had  fully  complied  with  the  claims  of  gratitude, 
could  not  longer  be  detained.  He  recommended  himself 
to  the  Mother  of  God,  whose  shrine  at  Alt-Oetting  is  re- 
garded as  miraculous,  and,  trusting  to  her  protection, 
continued  his  journey.  His  confidence  was  rewarded. 
He  arrived  at  his  destination  without  accident.  In  a 
second  letter  to  his  father  he  says: 

"  On  February  i8th  I  arrived  at  Alt-Oetting  in  Bava- 
ria. The  snow  was  so  deep  that  I  was  forced  to  remain 
three  days  with  my  brethren,  which  detention,  however, 
caused  me  more  joy  than  regret.  By  it  I  was  enabled  to 
offer  the  Holy  Sacrifice  in  that  ancient  chapel  where  so 
many  graces  are  constantly  obtained.  You,  all  my  loved 
ones,  and  the  whole  city  of  Prachatitz,  I  recommended  to 
Our  Lady's  maternal  care.  I  reached  Munich  only  on  the 
2ist,  when  I  hastened  to  finish  up,  as  speedily  as  possible, 
all  business  connected  with  my  diocese.  I  was  every- 
where received  with  such  kindness  as  to  lead  me  to  hope 
for  the  success  of  my  affairs  here." 


He   Visits  Rome  and  his  Native  Place.      411 

Business  detained  the  Bishop  in  Munich  for  several 
days,  during  which  he  was  the  honored  and  welcome 
guest  of  Mr.  Stiessberger,  a  highly  respectable  merchant 
of  the  city,  brother  of  Father  Stiessberger,  C.SS.R.  We 
need  scarcely  repeat  that  the  unobtrusive  manners  of 
the  holy  Bishop  secured  the  admiration  and  esteem  of 
every  member  of  this  worthy  household,  and  awoke  in 
all  profound  veneration  for  his  sanctity.  We  shall  here 
record  an  incident  illustrative  of  his  humility  and  mod- 
esty. During  his  stay  in  Munich  there  were  celebrated 
in  St.  Mary's  Cathedral  the  solemn  obsequies  of  the  re- 
cently deceased  Archbishop  Anselm.  A  little  before  the 
services  began,  a  plainly  dressed  ecclesiastic  was  seen 
entering  the  sacristy,  a  travelling-bag  in  hand.  The 
stranger  was  scarcely  noticed  in  the  crowd  of  priests  as- 
sembled to  do  honor  to  the  late  Archbishop.  He  slipped 
into  a  retired  corner  and  began  saying  his  Rosary. 
After  a  short  time  had  passed,  some  one  present  re- 
marked that  Bishop  Neumann,  of  Philadelphia,  had 
accepted  an  invitation  to  the  funeral,  and  that  it  was 
almost  time  for  him  to  make  his  appearance.  With  that 
the  little  priest  who  all  this  time  had  been  sitting  un- 
noticed in  a  corner  arose,  announced  himself  as  Bishop 
Neumann,  and,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  donned  the  episcopal 
robes.  The  ceremonies  over,  a  contention  began  among 
the  reverend  gentlemen  as  to  who  should  escort  the 
Bishop  to  his  lodgings.  Some  who  had  noticed  with 
feelings  of  admiration  the  extraordinary  humility  of  the 
Bishop's  bearing  had  already  seized  his  travelling-bag, 
and  for  a  moment  there  was  a  struggle  as  to  who  should 
be  allowed  to  carry  it.  The  Bishop  interposed,  begging 
to  be  permitted  to  do  so  himself.  He  was  vanquished, 
however,  and  forced  not  only  to  relinquish  for  a  time 
all  right  to  his  property,  but  also  to  accept  an  honorable 
escort  home.  On  another  occasion,  he  returned  to  Mr. 
Stiessberger's  after  transacting  some  important  business. 
The  weather  was  stormy,  and  the  Bishop's  shoes  were 


412  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

wet.  When  some  one  suggested  the  propriety  of  chang- 
ing them,  he  smilingly  replied,  "  Were  I  to  change,  it 
would  only  be  from  one  foot  to  the  other,  as  I  have  only 
one  pair." 

Whilst  in  Munich,  the  humility  of  the  saintly  prelate 
was  put  to  a  severe  test,  and  a  pious  artifice  was  resorted 
to  in  order  to  induce  him  to  have  his  portrait  taken. 
During  his  travels  he  had  been  frequently  asked  for  his 
likeness.  His  invariable  reply  was,  "Surely,  I  am  not 
so  important  a  personage  that  you  should  desire  my 
portrait."  The  same  request  was  repeated  in  Munich, 
but  this  time  it  was  couched  in  a  form  which  his  pious 
heart  could  not  refuse.  Let  him  have  his  portrait  taken, 
they  said;  it  might  afterward  be  lithographed  and 
copies  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor  of  his  native 
place.  "  Charity  dealeth  not  perversely,"  least  of  all 
Bishop  Neumann's  charity;  so  he  was  photographed, 
holding  in  his  hand  the  memorial  album  which  the  good 
people  of  Prachatitz  had  presented  him.  The  likeness 
was  an  excellent  one,  and  several  were  struck  from  it 
after  his  death.  So  far  as  we  know,  there  exist  only 
three  portraits  of  him:  the  first  is  an  oil-painting,  repre- 
senting him  a  little  boy  of  six  years;  the  second,  a  pho- 
tograph taken  in  Baltimore,  in  obedience  to  the  Provin- 
cial, Father  Bernard,  who,  when  he  heard  that  Father 
Neumann  was  to  be  made  Bishop,  lost  no  time  in  giving 
him  a  command  to  leave  this  memento  to  his  Congre- 
gation; the  third  is  the  one  whose  history  we  have  just 
recorded. 

From  Munich,  Bishop  Neumann  travelled  with  Bishop 
Timon,  of  Buffalo,  through  Augsburg,  Stuttgard,  Spire, 
etc.,  of  which  journey  he  thus  writes: 

"  In  Spire  we  were  kindly  received  by  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  Weis,  who  accompanied  us  to  the  Cathedral, 
which  had  been  recently  repaired  and  beautified.  This 
church,  in  which  St.  Bernard  once  preached  and,  in  his 
holy  enthusiasm,  added  the  exquisite  closing  salutations 


He   Visits  Rome  and  ILLS  Native  Place.      413 

of  the  '  Salve  Regina,'  is,  for  its  size  and  the  magnifi- 
cence of  its  frescos,  one  of  the  grandest  in  the  world. 
It  is  a  lasting  monument  to  the  liberality  and  artistic 
taste  of  the  recent  Bavarian  kings,  and  especially  of 
good  King  Louis.  By  it  they  have  acquired  merit  be- 
fore Almighty  God  whom  it  is  designed  to  honor,  and 
to  whose  glory  all  the  arts  and  treasures  of  this  world 
should  be  made  subservient." 

On  arriving  in  Paris,  Bishop  Neumann  found  that  the 
next  steamer  would  not  sail  from  Havre  till  the  i4th  of 
March,  which  information  made  a  change  in  his  plans. 
He  resolved  to  go  to  Liverpool  via  London,  desiring,  if 
possible,  to  reach  his  diocese  by  Palm-Sunday.  On 
March  xoth  he  sailed  from  Europe  in  the  steamer  Atlan- 
tic, in  company  with  the  Archbishop  of  New  York  and 
Bishop  Timon,  of  Buffalo. 

After  an  uneventful  voyage  of  seventeen  days  our- 
travellers  landed  in  New  York,  March  27th,  at  ten  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon.  Bishop  Neumann  proceeded  at  once  to 
the  nearest  church,  where  he  offered  up  the  Holy  Sacri- 
fice in  thanksgiving  for  their  safe  arrival.  The  next  day, 
the  28th,  his  birthday  and  the  anniversary  of  his  conse- 
cration, he  was  anxious  to  spend  in  his  own-  episcopal 
city;  consequently  he  left  New  York  that  same  evening, 
and  reached  Philadelphia  by  ten  that  night. 

As  his  return  voyage  had  been  an  unusually  lengthy 
one,  fears  were  beginning  to  be  entertained  for  his  safety, 
especially  as  several  steamers  had  lately  been  lost  on  the 
American  coast.  But  when  assured  of  their  prelate's 
happy  arrival,  joy  became  universal,  and  the  reception  he 
everywhere  met  proved  the  estimation  in  which  he  was 
held  by  his  flock. 


414  Life  of  23iskop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  X. 
Bishop  Neumann  is  Assigned  a  Coadjutor. 

WE  again  find  Bishop  Neumann  actively  engaged  in 
the  extensive  field  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Amer- 
ica. The  first  Plenary  Council  was  held  in  Baltimore,  May 
9-20,  1852.  It  was  attended  by  six  Archbishops,  twenty- 
six  Bishops,  and  twelve  Superiors  of  religious  Orders. 
It  tended  greatly  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  Church  in 
America;  important  points  of  discipline  were  discussed, 
and  excellent  regulations  were  made.  Conspicuous  by 
his  reputation  for  learning  and  piety,  Bishop  Neumann 
held  a  prominent  position  in  this  imposing  assemblage 
of  Churchmen.  A  certain  distinguished  prelate  made 
the  following  remark  when,  some  time  after,  conversing 
upon  the  saintly  Neumann: 

"  I  had  an  opportunity  during  the  Council  in  Balti- 
more to  admire  Bishop  Neumann's  wonderful  memory 
and  extraordinary  theological  attainments.  He  had  a 
solution  for  every  question  proposed.  What  edified  me 
most  of  all  was  his  unruffled  composure,  which  betok- 
ened deep  humility  and  perfect  self-control.  I  always 
regarded  him  as  a  saint." 

Bishop  Neumann's  two  catechisms  were  highly  ex- 
tolled and  commended  by  the  Bishops  of  the  Council. 
The  smaller  one,  for  beginners,  has  reached  its  thirtieth 
edition;  the  larger,  its  eighteenth. 

The  Bishop,  writing  to  his  old  friend,  Father  Dichtl, 
thus  refers  to  the  Plenary  Council:  "We  have  been 
holding  a  Plenary  Council  in  Baltimore,  during  which 
the  erection  of  new  dioceses  was  proposed.  Such  steps 
are,  however,  generally  accompanied  by  so  many  un- 


Bishop  Neumann  is  Assigned  a  Coadjutor.  41 5 

pleasant  things  that  few  priests  are  willing  to  assume 
the  trouble  and  responsibility  of  them.  As  for  myself, 
my  long  years  of  missionary  work  have  made  such  hard- 
ships pleasant  to  me.  I  should  prefer  the  direction  of 
such  a  diocese  to  that  of  Philadelphia.  Though  I  can- 
not say  that  the  latter  has  degenerated  since  confided  to 
my  charge,  yet  not  a  day  passes  that  I  do  not  long  to  be 
once  more  in  those  vast  forests  which,  for  so  many  years, 
I  used  to  traverse  every  week  in  my  mission  to  the  log- 
huts  of  the  Catholics  scattered  here  and  there  through- 
out the  country.  Feeling  that  my  present  position  could 
be  more  easily  filled  than  a  new  see  provided  for,  I  pro- 
posed to  the  Council  my  willingness  to  take  charge  of 
one  of  the  projected  dioceses,  if  it  seemed  good  to  the 
Holy  See  to  transfer  me  thither. 

"  The  Acts  and  Decrees  of  the  Council  were  sent  more 
than  a  year  ago  to  the  Propaganda,  but  the  illness 
and  subsequent  death  of  the  Cardinal-Prefect  have 
prevented  our  receiving  a  decision  as  yet.  .  .  .  May  the 
holy  will  of  God  be  done!" 

Bishop  Neumann's  tender  solicitude  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties  weighed  heavily  upon  his  highly  sensitive 
soul.  Again  and  again,  with  childlike  sincerity,  did  he 
complain  to  his  confessor  that  his  episcopal  office  was 
an  insupportable  burden;  that  he  felt  every  morning 
as  if  he  were  to  be  executed  that  day;  that  with  his 
whole  heart  he  longed  to  return  to  the  midst  of  his  beloved 
brethren.  He  had,  in  fact,  twice  drawn  up  a  petition  to 
the  Holy  Father  in  which  he  urged  every  possible  reason 
for  a  release  from  his  position;  but  his  confessor,  with- 
out whose  approval  he  did  nothing  in  which  the  affairs 
of  his  conscience  were  involved,  commanded  him  each 
time  to  burn  it. 

Toward  the  close  of  1856  he  wrote  to  one  of  his  friends 
in  Bohemia:  "The  labors  of  my  diocese  are  daily  on  the 
increase;  their  number  and  kind  render  them  ever  more 
and  more  difficult.  My  cares  multiply  in  the  same  ratio 


416  Life  of  BisJwp  Neumann. 

as  our  Catholics.  Oh,  if  the  faithful  only  advanced  as 
rapidly  in  the  love  of  God  as  they  do  in  numbers!  I  am 
still  alone;  for,  as  the  Cathedral  is  not  yet  sufficiently 
advanced  for  service,  I  could  not,  at  present,  support  or 
find  occupation  for  several  priests.  I  am  therefore 
obliged  to  attend  to  all  my  correspondence  myself,  give 
dispensations,  and  settle  business  of  all  kinds  for  both 
clergy  and  laity.  From  seven  in  the  morning  till  nine 
at  night  I  am  occupied  in  this  way  almost  without  inter- 
ruption. By  that  time  I  am,  it  is  true,  exceedingly 
fatigued,  but  my  health  is  good,  and  I  fear  Almighty 
God  will  not  soon  relieve  me  of  my  burden." 

Let  us  not  misunderstand  the  holy  Bishop's  so-called 
complaints.  The  dread  of  not  being  equal  to  his  re- 
sponsible position,  and  not  the  arduous  duties  of  his 
office,  forced  from  him  that  cry  to  be  relieved.  His 
offer  to  resign  his  post  to  another  and,  as  he  termed 
it,  a  more  competent  person,  in  order  to  take  charge 
of  a  new  and  more  difficult  one  with  the  approbation 
of  the  Holy  See,  was  not  accepted  in  Rome,  nor  was 
it  thought  advisable  to  divide  the  diocese  of  Phila- 
delphia. A  Coadjutor  was,  however,  given  to  the  Bishop. 
Rev.  James  Frederick  Wood,  at  that  time  pastor  of  one 
of  the  churches  in  Cincinnati,  had  just  been  appointed 
President  of  the  American  College  in  Rome.  He  was 
making  preparations  for  entering  upon  his  new  position, 
when  he  received  the  Bulls  appointing  him  Bishop  of 
Antigonia,  "  in  partibus  infidelium,"  and  Coadjutor  of 
the  Bishop  of  Philadelphia,  with  the  right  of  succession. 

The  Catholic  Herald of  April  u,  1857,  noticed  the  nomi- 
nation in  the  following  words: 

"  Bishop  Neumann,  in  his  great  humility,  has  most 
earnestly  requested  the  Holy  Father  to  free  him  from 
the  responsibility  of  administering  so  large  a  diocese; 
but  the  Pope  was  too  well  instructed  in  regard  to  the 
ardent  zeal,  and  untiring  solicitude  of  our  revered 
Prelate,  the  effects  of  which  are  seen  in  the  erection 


Bishop  Neumann  is  Assigned  a  Coadjutor.  417 

of  so  many  churches  and  institutions.  For  this  reason 
the  Holy  Father  did  not  grant  his  request,  though 
the  Bishop's  health  is  suffering  from  the  unceasing 
labors  of  his  episcopal  office. 

"The  diocese  of  Philadelphia  surpasses  every  other  of 
this  continent,  as  well  in  extent  of  territory  as  in  the 
number  of  priests  and  people.  Under  these  circum- 
stances many  were  of  opinion  that  the  diocese  should 
be  divided.  His  Holiness,  however,  after  mature  delib- 
eration, has  decided  that  the  diocese  is  not  for  the  pre- 
sent to  be  divided,  but  he  has  assigned  to  our  Right 
Reverend  Bishop,  John  Nepomucene  Neumann,  a  Coad- 
jutor in  the  person  of  Rev.  James  Frederick  Wood.  The 
latter  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  in  1813.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  this  city,  and  devoted  himself  to  a  commercial 
course  of  study.  He  afterward  obtained  a  situation  in  a 
bank  in  Cincinnati.  This  state  of  life,  however,  did  not 
please  him;  he  felt  that  the  security  of  his  eternal  sal- 
vation was  more  important  than  all  earthly  gain.  He 
went  in  search  of  the  truth,  and  the  grace  of  God  led 
him  to  the  knowledge  of  it,  and  to  the  conviction  that 
only  in  the  Catholic  Church,  as  the  institution  established 
by  Jesus  Christ  for  the  salvation  of  man,  could  he  save 
his  soul.  In  the  year  1836  he  was  received  into  the 
Church  by  Archbishop  Purcell,  of  Cincinnati;  in  the 
following  year  he  went  to  Rome  to  study  for  the  priest- 
hood. On  the  ist  of  October,  1844,  he  came  as  a  priest 
to  Cincinnati,  and  after  having  served  faithfully  as  cu- 
rate and  pastor  till  the  year  1857,  he  will  on  the  26th  of 
April  be  consecrated  Bishop  of  Antigonia  and  Coad- 
jutor of  Bishop  Neumann,  with  the  right  of  succes- 
sion." 

Bishop  Neumann,  accompanied  by  the  Rev.  Father 
Kleineidam,  rector  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  Philadelphia, 
set  out  for  Cincinnati  to  be  present  at  the  consecration 
of  his  Coadjutor  and  to  escort  him  to  his  future 
home.  On  the  return  journey,  all  three  visited  the 


4i 8  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Redemptorist  House  of  Studies  in  Cumberland,  Mary- 
land, on  which  occasion  Bishop  Neumann  conferred 
the  order  of  deacon  on  seven  of  the  students,  and  minor 
orders  on  a  still  larger  number. 

From  this  period  the  two  Bishops  labored  conjointly 
in  the  extensive  diocese  over  which  they  watched  "  as 
being  to  render  an  account."  Bishop  Wood  gave  effi- 
cient service  in  the  administration  of  episcopal  functions, 
Bishop  Neumann  having  entrusted  to  him  the  temporal 
affairs  of  the  diocese. 

This  assistance  was  very  much  needed  by  Bishop 
Neumann,  since,  besides  the  innumerable  cares  devolv- 
ing upon  him  at  home,  his  services  were  often  demanded 
in  other  dioceses.  He  was  frequently  called  upon  for 
retreats,  and  his  well-known  kindness  of  heart  and  un- 
bounded zeal  for  souls  never  suffered  him  to  discard 
such  requests.  We  have  the  following  testimony  from 
a  reverend  gentleman  who  had  the  happiness  of  making 
the  spiritual  exercises  under  his  direction  in  one  of  the 
retreats  to  the  clergy  of  Buffalo.  This  same  reverend 
gentleman  was  afterward  raised  to  the  episcopal  dig- 
nity. 

"Bishop  Neumann,"  he  says,  "gave  to  the  clergy  of 
the  Buffalo  diocese  a  retreat  which  I  attended.  On  the 
second  day  he  was  told  that  there  were  several  Ger- 
mans making  the  exercises  who  did  not  understand  Eng- 
lish well  enough  to  profit  by  instructions  in  that  lan- 
guage. What  did  he  do?  Every  day  he  gave  two 
meditations  in  English  and  a  corresponding  number  in 
German;  also  a  conference  in  English  once  a  day,  and 
another  in  German.  He  preached  six  times  a  day  ! 
His  courteous  and  affable  bearing  won  the  confidence 
of  the  priests;  all  wished  to  go  to  confession  to  him. 
His  discourses  were  powerful  and  attractive.  He  never 
reproached,  he  admonished.  His  sermons  excited  our 
admiration  all  the  more  as  we  knew  that  Bishop  Timon 
had  invited  him  to  give  the  retreat  so  short  a  time 


Bishop  Neumann  is  Assigned  a  Coadjutor.  419 

before  it  began  as  to  leave  him   no  chance  to  prepare 
for  it." 

Letters  from  the  clergy  and  the  laity  poured  in  upon 
the  Bishop;  some  asking  his  advice  in  perplexing 
affairs,  others  requesting  a  solution  of  difficult  questions. 
His  kind-heartedness  would  never  permit  him  to  leave 
any  unanswered.  His  first  impulse  on  the  receipt  of  a 
letter  was  to  answer  at  once,  or,  if  that  were  impossible, 
he  did  so  at  his  first  free  moment.  Day  brought  its 
own  load  of  care;  the  night  was  given  up  to  satisfying 
these  outside  calls.  The  good  Bishop's  obligingness  of 
disposition  was  generally  known,  and  everywhere  looked 
upon  as  an  effect  of  his  eminent  holiness.  A  priest 
belonging  to  another  diocese  once  remarked:  "  I  wrote 
to  the  late  Bishop  Neumann  upon  a  matter  whose  solu- 
tion was  not  clear  to  me,  in  fact  I  could  give  no  expla- 
nation concerning  it.  What  was  my  astonishment 
on  receiving  from  him  a  few  days  after  a  most  satisfac- 
tory answer  which  dispelled  all  doubts  !  He  sent  me  at 
the  same  time  the  subjects  of  the  clerical  conferences 
held  in  his  diocese,  and  also  the  last  Decree  of  the  Holy 
See  in  reference  to  the  Odd-fellows.  I  was  the  more 
pleased  and  impressed  by  his  prompt  attention,  as  I 
was  a  perfect  stranger  to  him." 


420  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  XL 

Some  Traits  of  Bishop  Neumann's  Saintly 
Character. 

WE  have  in  preceding  chapters  alluded  to  Bishop 
Neumann's  affability,  modesty,  and  discretion. 
His  whole  demeanor  breathed  these  virtues;  even  pass- 
ing intercourse  with  him  could  not  fail  to  impress  the 
stranger  with  the  fact  of  their  existence.  A  certain  lady 
who  had  frequent  recourse  to  him  on  business  affairs 
renders  the  following  beautiful  testimony  on  this  point: 
"I  had  occasion  to  call  on  Bishop  Neumann  very  often, 
but  in  no  one  of  my  visits  did  I  ever  see  him  fix  his  eyes 
on  me.  He  smiled,  and  his  expression  then  was  truly 
heavenly,  but  he  never  raised  his  eyes.  And  yet  his 
downcast  glance  had  nothing  forced  or  repulsive  in  it. 
No  one  could  feel  offended  at  it;  on  the  contrary,  all 
left  his  presence  edified  and  with  the  consciousness  of 
having  spoken  to  a  saint." 

During  a  mission  given  by  the  Redemptorist  Fathers 
in  the  Cathedral  Chapel,  October,  1858,  the  Bishop  might 
be  seen  every  morning  at  four  o'clock,  opening  the  door 
to  admit  the  crowd  already  assembled  outside.  He 
would  stand  at  the  entrance  a  moment,  salute  the  faith- 
ful as  they  passed  in,  and  e-xhort  them  to  pray  devoutly 
until  the  sermon  began.  Whilst  the  mission  lasted  the 
episcopal  residence  was  open  all  day  long  to  any  who 
might  wish  to  speak  to  the  missionaries;  and  it  was  no 
rare  sight  to  see  the  Bishop  himself  exercising  the  office 
of  janitor,  so  great  was  his  solicitude  that  no  one  wish- 
ing to  see  one  of  the  Fathers  should  leave  the  house  dis- 


Some   Traits  of  his  Saintly  Character.    42 1 

appointed.  He  neglected  nothing  that  might  facilitate 
easy  communication  between  the  pastors  of  souls  and 
those  that  came  to  seek  from  them  advice  or  consolation. 
He  had  a  bell  hung  in  his  residence  for  the  purpose 
of  calling  any  of  the  reverend  gentlemen  of  his  house- 
hold who  might  happen  to  be  wanted;  and,  in  his  humil- 
ity, he  would  never  dispense  himself  from  the  same 
regulation.  When  the  bell  sounded  one,  he  promptly 
answered;  when  two,  his  Right  Reverend  Coadjutor;  and 
so  on,  each  member  having  a  certain  number  of  strokes. 
One  day  several  ladies  called  and  asked  for  Rev.  Mr. 

N ,  who  had,  they  said,  promised  to  show  them  the 

beautiful  ivory  crucifix  described  in  a  previous  chapter. 

Rev.   Mr.   N was  .out;  but  by  some  happy  chance 

the  Bishop  became  aware  of  the  circumstance  and  the 
ladies'  disappointment.  Down  he  hurried  to  the  parlor, 
saying:  "  Come  with  me,  my  children,  come  with  me.  I 
will  show  you  that  masterpiece  of  art.  I  will  tell  you 
the  history  of  the  Genoese  crucifix."  The  invitation  was 
gladly  accepted.  We  shall  allow  one  of  the  fair  visitors 
to  finish  the  story.  "  The  Bishop,"  she  said,  "  showed 
us  his  sacred  treasures,  his  numerous  relics  of  the  saints, 
the  silver  medal  commemorative  of  the  day  on  which 
the  Immaculate  Conception  was  declared  a  dogma  of 
the  Church,  and  many  other  things  besides,  not  forget- 
ting the  chief  object  of  interest,  the  exquisite  crucifix. 
When  he  noticed  that  two  of  us  were  daughters  of  the 
Emerald  Isle,  he  became  enthusiastic  over  St.  Patrick, 
whose  feast  happened  to  fall  on  that  very  day.  He  told 
us  many  wonderful  facts  connected  with  our  saint  which 
we  had  never  before  heard.  In  a  casket  with  a  glass 
top  lay  a  life-size  figure  in  wax.  It  looked  so  natural 
that  for  an  instant  I  drew  back.  '  Bishop,  what  is  this  ? 
Whom  does  this  figure  represent?'  I  ventured  to  ask. 
The  Bishop  answered,  with  one  of  his  gracious  smiles: 
'That  represents  my  patron,  St.  John  Nepomucene.  It 
will,  one  of  these  days,  find  a  suitable  resting-place  un- 


422  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

der  an  altar  which  is  to  be  erected  to  his  honor  in  the 
new  Cathedral.' " 

Bishop  Neumann  understood  well  how  to  treat  with 
persons  of  wealth  and  culture.  Holiness  imparts  to  its 
possessor  a  sort  of  intuitive  knowledge  of  what  is  de- 
manded in  intercourse  with  the  neighbor,  be  he  high  or 
low,  rich  or  poor.  Blessed  Henry  Suso  well  expressed 
this  when  he  said:  "  Purity,  intelligence,  and  virtue  give 
a  feeling  of  wealth  to  those  that  possess  them,"  which 
feeling  of  wealth  flows  in  an  exuberance  of  kind  and  gen- 
tle words  and  deeds  over  all  with  whom  it  comes  in 
contact.  Such  was  the  wealth  of  him  of  whom  we  now 
speak;  and  yet,  though  so  well  calculated  to  win  his  way 
with  the  rich  and  great  of  this  world,  he  never  felt  him- 
self at  home  among  them.  After  the  example  of  his 
Divine  Master,  he  sought  out  the  lowly  that  he  might 
do  them  good;  he  condescended  to  the  rich  for  the  same 
godlike  end.  On  some  occasions  he  was  constrained  to 
accept  invitations  to  social  gatherings  and  formal  din- 
ners oftentimes  given  in  his  own  honor.  He  invariably 
tried  to  escape  such  attentions,  but  this  was  not  always 
possible.  Speaking  of  one  instance  in  particular  when, 
after  repeatedly  declining,  he  had  been  forced  to  take 
tea  with  a  family  moving  in  the  highest  circle  of  society, 
he  said:  "I  was  obliged  to  accept;  special  reasons  for- 
bade an  absolute  refusal.  But  the  formalities  attendant 
on  such  occasions  are  diametrically  opposed  to  my  tastes: 
they  are  empty,  meaningless  ceremonies.  I  would  rather 
fast  than  be  present  at  such  banquets.  But  a  greater 
good  which  I  had  in  view  obliged  me  to  accept  that 
invitation." 

The  good  Bishop  shrunk  with  equal  distaste  from 
those  dinners  which  social  custom  and  propriety  con- 
strained him  to  give  in  his  own  mansion.  It  often  hap- 
pened on  these  occasions  that  he  would  contrive  to  have 
some  urgent  business  on  hand,  when,  leaving  his 
place  to  be  supplied  by  his  Coadjutor,  he  would  slip 


Some   Traits  of  his  Saintly  Character.     423 

quietly  away,  inwardly  congratulating  himself  on  his 
escape  from  what  was  ever  to  him  the  most  irksome  of 
the  duties  imposed  by  his  high  position.  Sometimes  he 
did  not  even  make  his  appearance  among  his  guests;  a 
gracious  message  of  welcome  to  them,  and  of  apology 
for  his  own  absence,  satisfied  the  demands  of  etiquette. 
His  housekeeper  declares  that  she  has  known  the  Bishop, 
at  such  times,  on  returning  before  the  close  of  the  enter- 
tainment, to  slip  into  a  side  apartment,  take  a  mouthful 
of  bread  and  wine,  and  hurry  up  to  his  room,  intent  only 
upon  escaping  notice.  Once  within  its  sheltering  pre- 
cincts, he  would  resume  his  work,  reading,  writing,  or 
whatever  it  might  be.  She  says  that  she  actually  had 
to  watch  him  to  see  that  he  got  his  meals.  From  the 
same  infomant  we  learn  that  for  whole  weeks  at  a  time 
the  bed  in  his  room  presented  no  appearance  of  having 
been  used.  Morning  found  it  in  the  same  condition  as 
upon  the  preceding  evening.  He  usually  took  his  short 
rest  of  about  two  or  three  hours  sitting  in  a  chair  at  his 
writing-desk. 

Whilst  treating  this  point,  we  must  not  omit  the  strik- 
ing and  characteristic  account  given  by  one  of  his 
clergymen  who  often  accompanied  the  Bishop  on  his 
episcopal  visitations.  "  When,"  says  the  reverend  gen- 
tleman, "  I  accompanied  Bishop  Neumann  on  his  visi- 
tation, I  often  sat  at  table  with  him,  and  I  had  a  very 
good  opportunity  to  observe  him.  To-day,  perhaps,  we 
would  dine  in  style  ;  to-morrow,  very  likely,  we  would 
sit  down  to  a  rustic  meal  served  in  the  most  primitive 
manner.  But  I  always  remarked  that  these  latter  had 
the  effect  of  calling  into  play  the  Bishop's  highest 
powers  of  humor  and  sociability.  He  would  indulge  in 
little  pleasantries,  he  was  the  life  of  the  circle  around 
him.  But  if,  on  the  contrary,  we  found  ourselves  feasted 
in  style,  at  a  table  laden  with  delicacies,  the  poor  Bish- 
op was  out  of  his  element,  he  had  very  little  to  say,  and 
would  manage  to  escape  as  quietly  and  quickly  as  possi- 


424  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

ble.  One  day  we  were  obliged  to  dine  at  the  house  of  a 
very  rich  Catholic.  The  guests  were  numerous  and  the 
appointments  brilliant.  The  Bishop  was  more  than 
ordinarily  serious,  and  he  scarcely  touched  the  rich  meats 
and  wines  before  him.  The  very  next  day  brought  us 
quite  a  change  of  circumstances,  for  we  dined  in  a 
log-cabin,  off  simple  fare,  our  only  beverage  pure 
water.  But  this  was  seasoned  with  the  precious  wine  of 
Christian  cordiality  ;  and  the  childlike  pleasure  evinced 
by  our  good  host  in  attending  to  the  Bishop's  wants, 
more  than  supplied  for  the  sumptuous  entertainment  of 
of  the  preceding  day.  What  a  difference  between  the 
Bishop  of  yesterday  and  the  Bishop  of  to-day  ! — yester- 
day serious,  constrained  ;  to-day  all  affability  and  con- 
descension, even  prolonging  the  repast  beyond  the  usual 
time.  On  taking  leave,  he  presented  every  member  of 
the  family  with  some  little  object  of  devotion.  When 
out  of  the  house,  he  remarked  :  '  What  a  difference  be- 
tween yesterday  and  to-day  !  Yesterday  we  were  treated 
to  a  well-filled  table,  empty  forms  of  politeness,  and  use- 
less conversation  ;  but  to-day  we  were  surrounded  by 
the  charming  simplicity  of  a  pious  Catholic  home.' " 

With  all  his  gentleness,  Bishop  Neumann  knew  how 
to  answer  to  the  point  when  he  deemed  it  fitting,  or 
when  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  neighbor  seemed  to 
call  for  it.  One  day,  whilst  superintending  the  work  on 
his  Cathedral  and  talking  familiarly  with  the  men  who 
were  preparing  the  immense  blocks  of  stone  for  the 
front,  a  respectable-looking  person  whose  speech  pro- 
claimed him  a  Quaker  approached  the  Bishop  and  said, 
"  Friend,  does  thee  not  think  that  it  would  be  better 
to  give  the  money  to  the  poor  instead  of  spending  it  on 
this  grand  building  ?"  "  That,"  retorted  the  Bishop, 
"  is  just  what  we  are  doing.  These  poor  men  do  the 
work,  and  every  Saturday  evening  they  get  their  good 
wages.  Is  it  not  better  to  spend  in  this  way  than  to  be- 
stow alms  upon  such  as  do  not,  or  who  are  often  un- 


Some    Traits  of  his  Saintly  Character.    425 

willing  to  labor  ?"  The  Quaker,  somewhat  abashed, 
turned  off  with  the  words,  "  Oh,  if  thee  view  it  in  that 
light,  thee  may  be  right." 

Although  dispensed  from  the  obligations  of  the  vow, 
he  loved  and  practised  the  virtue  of  poverty  in  a  high 
degree.  He  had  a  skilful  way  of  slipping  his  purse  into 
the  hands  of  the  poor.  After  thus  relieving  his  pocket, 
it  was  no  unusual  thing  for  him,  upon  the  next  demand 
made  on  his  charity,  to  search  in  vain  for  a  few  cents. 
Bnt  he  was  never  at  a  loss.  When  he  found  himself  in 
such  straits,  he  would  seize  the  first  article  upon  which 
he  could  lawfully  lay  his  hands  and  give  it  to  the  beg- 
gar. Clothes,  linen,  shoes  —  all  in  turn  found  their 
way  to  the  poor.  For  himself  he  reserved  barely  what 
was  necessary.  Such  liberality  (excessive  and  indis- 
creet, some  might  style  it)  threw  him  at  times  into  the 
greatest  embarrassment.  On  a  certain  Sunday  he  was 
on  his  way  to  one  of  the  churches  in  the  city,  in  which 
the  devotion  of  the  Forty  Hours  was  to  commence.  A 
priest  belonging  to  a  neighboring  church  happened  to 
meet  him.  Shocked  at  the  Bishop's  shabby  appearance, 
he  could  not  forbear  exclaiming,  "Right  Reverend  Bish- 
op, you  are  in  a  wretched  condition  !  This  is  Sunday  ! 
Will  you  not  change  that  coat  for  a  better  one  ?"  "  What 
shall  I  do?"  answered  the  Bishop,  smiling;  "I  have  no 
other."  This  was  actually  true.  He  had  just  given  his 
best  coat  to  a  poor  fellow  asking  alms. 

When  preparations  were  being  made  for  the  reception 
of  his  Coadjutor,  the  good  Bishop  was  informed  that  the 
room  destined  for  the  expected  stranger  was  without  a 
wardrobe,  and,  what  was  worse,  there  was  no  money  in 
the  purse  to  buy  one.  "Then,"  said  the  Bishop,  with  a 
smile,  "we  must  think  of  another  way  to  get  one.  I 
know:  take  the  one  from  my  room  and  put  it  into  Bish- 
op Wood's;  I  can  easily  do  without  it." 

When  a  simple  religious,  Bishop  Neumann  had  always 
appeared  in  worn  and  patched  clothing.  His  brethren 


426  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

were  so  accustomed  to  see  him  shabbily  dressed  that 
the  change  he  was  forced  to  make  in  this  respect  on  the 
day  of  his  consecration  was  a  subject  of  amusement  to 
many  of  them.  One  Father  jokingly  addressed  him  : 
"  To-day,  at  least,  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you 
well  dressed."  "  Ah  !"  replied  the  object  of  his  bantering, 
with  a  sigh,  "  Holy  Mother  Church  treats  us  as  parents 
do  their  children.  To  encourage  the  child  to  perform 
its  task,  the  parent  promises  it  some  new  article  of  dress." 

After  his  elevation  to  the  episcopal  dignity,  Bishop 
Neumann  changed  nothing  in  his  conduct,  his  dress,  or 
his  sentiments,  nor  could  he  become  accustomed  to  his  new 
title.  Toward  the  close  of  his  life,  he  said  jestingly  on 
this  subject  to  one  of  his  friends:  "Whenever  I  hear 
myself  addressed  '  Right  Reverend  Sir'  or  '  Right  Rev- 
erend Bishop,'  I  imagine  behind  me  some  distinguished 
personage  to  whom  the  title  belongs." 

His  plain,  even  shabby  appearance  often  gave  rise  to 
amusing  blunders.  One  day  he  was  visiting  his  breth- 
ren in  their  convent  at  St.  Peter's,  Philadelphia.  The 
community  was  gathered  around  him  in  the  general 
recreation-room,  pleasantly  chatting,  when  a  certain 
Father  who  had  but  recently  arrived  from  Europe,  and 
who  had  not  yet  been  presented  to  His  Lordship,  entered 
unobserved  and  joined  the  little  group.  "  How  singu- 
lar!" he  thought.  "  Is  this  the  way  they  do  here  in  America  ? 
Do  they  allow  strangers  and  people  of  no  account  to 
enter  the  cloister  and  communicate  so  familiarly  with  the 
community?"  Here  a  break  in  the  conversation  af- 
forded an  opportunity  for  an  introduction  between  the 
newly-arrived  Father  and  the  poorly-clad  individual 
whose  presence  had  given  rise  to  his  indignant  stric- 
tures. What  was  his  amazement  to  find  himself  face 
to  face  with  Bishop  Neumann  of  whom  he  had  heard 
so  much — Bishop  Neumann  of  whom,  as  a  Redemptorist, 
he  might  be  so  justly  proud  ! 

True  to  his  principles  in  the  smallest  as  well  as  in  the 


Some    Traits  of  his  Saintly  Character.    427 

greatest  circumstances  of  life,  the  Bishop  would  nevec 
suffer  himself  to  be  waited  upon  by  a  servant.  He 
brushed  his  own  clothes,  polished  his  own  shoes,  ar- 
ranged his  own  room  himself.  He  would  never  allow 
his  breakfast  to  be  brought  to  him.  He  used  to  go 
down  to  the  dining-room,  take  a  slice  of  bread  and 
butter  and  a  glass  of  water,  and  return  to  his  own  room 
without  having  been  seen  even  by  the  servants.  His 
greatest  care  was  to  give  trouble  to  no  one.  The 
Redemptorist  custom  not  to  ask  for  anything  at  table 
he  continued  to  observe  as  Bishop.  He  took  simply 
what  was  offered  him,  but  he  asked  for  nothing.  As  to 
whether  his  food  were  pleasing  to  his  taste  or  otherwise, 
that  appeared  to  be  a  matter  of  indifference  to  him;  in- 
deed, it  was  sometimes  said  of  him  that  he  had  lost  the 
sense  of  taste.  Tobacco  he  never  used  in  any  form. 

A  reverend  gentlemen  going  to  the  Bishop's  room 
one  day,  found  him  sick.  He  was  lying  on  a  bare  plank 
and  apparently  suffering  intensely.  Alarmed  at  the 
sight  and  moved  with  compassion  for  his  comfortless 
position,  the  priest  exclaimed,  "  Bishop,  you  are  sick, 
very  sick.  You  ought  to  go  to  bed."  "To  bed?" 
echoed  the  Bishop.  "  Why,  I  am  just  as  comfortable 
here."  "No,  no,"  rejoined  the  good  priest;  "you  are 
not  as  comfortable  there,  and  you  have  no  right  under 
these  circumstances  to  do  as  you  please.  You  are  a 
Bishop;  you  belong  to  your  diocese."  This  was  enough. 
The  Bishop  arose  from  his  hard  couch  with,  "  Well, 
whatever  you  say." 

Soon  after,  his  obedience  was  again  severely  tested.  A 
hot  drink  was  brought  him  and  recommended  as  an  excel- 
lent remedy.  The  Bishop  took  it  in  silence,  raised  it  to  his 
lips,  but  instantly  withdrew  it,  saying,  "Why,  this  is 
wine!"  "No,  it  is  soup;  it  will  cure  you,"  was  the  reply. 
The  Bishop  again  raised  the  goblet  to  his  lips,  and  in  a 
spirit  of  obedience  drained  its  contents,  though  the 
effort  to  swallow  it  cost  him  a  struggle  against  nausea. 


428  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Next  day,  however,  the  patient  found  himself  consider- 
ably better,  and  in  answer  to  the  anxious  inquiries  of  his 
reverend  nurse,  he  said  laughingly,  "Your  soup  did  me 
good,  after  all." 

After  the  holy  prelate's  demise,  his  spiritual  director 
rendered  of  him  the  following  beautiful  testimony  : 
"Bishop  Neumann  was  unrelenting  in  the  practice  of 
the  virtues  of  self-denial  and  mortification,  but  so  pru- 
dently, so  modestly  did  he  act  in  this  respect  that  such 
practices  never  attracted  attention,  never  rendered  him 
burdensome  to  any  one.  He  wore  a  girdle  of  iron  wire 
that  penetrated  the  flesh;  he  chastised  his  innocent  body 
with  a  scourge  which  he  had  armed  with  a  sharp  nail; 
by  interior  recollection  and  constant  vigilance  over  his 
eyes  he  shut  out  every  temptation  that  could  sully  the 
purity  of  his  heart.  His  virginal  soul  uninterruptedly 
communed  with  God;  he  had  attained  a  high  degree  of 
prayer.  After  the  example  of  St.  Alphonsus,  he  had 
made  a  vow  never  to  lose  a  moment  of  time,  which 
vow  he  kept  till  death.  Even  when  travelling,  he  either 
read  or  spoke  about  the  things  of  God." 

When  obliged  to  go  to  distant  country  stations  to 
administer  Confirmation,  he  always,  as  we  have  before 
stated,  combined  the  duties  of  a  missionary  priest  with 
those  of  a  Bishop,  giving  instructions,  hearing  confes- 
sions, etc.  His  thanksgiving  after  Mass  could  not  be 
prolonged,  as  the  faithful  had  to  return  to  their  daily 
avocations  and  many  of  them  had  come  from  a  consider- 
able distance.  This  necessity  of  shortening  his  devo- 
tions troubled  the  good  Bishop's  tender  conscience.  He 
mentioned  the  circumstance  to  his  confessor,  adding 
that  the  thanksgiving  prayers  of  the  Roman  Missal  he 
knew  by  heart  and  always  said  after  his  Mass.  These 
prayers  consist  of  the  "Canticle  of  the  Three  Children," 
the  "  Laudate  Dominum,"  Psalm  150,  the  prayers  of  St. 
Thomas,  St.  Bonaventure,  and  St.  Augustine,  together 
with  versicles  and  responses,  etc.  His  confessor,  hear- 


Some   Traits  of  his  Saintly  Character.     429 

ing  this,  bade  him  have  no  scruple,  as  his  mission- 
ary duties  and  the  administration  of  the  Sacraments 
are  in  themselves  acts  of  thanksgiving.  What  an 
insight  these  lines  afford  into  the  interior  workings 
of  this  blessed  soul!  What  a  lesson  they  convey 
for  the  careful  utilizing  of  those  moments  which  con- 
tribute so  largely  to  the  work  of  sanctification,  the 
precious  moments  following  Holy  Communion!  Ah, 
truly  a  beautiful  mirror  of  all  virtues,  this  life  of  our 
venerable  Bishop— life  worthy  of  a  saint! 

Bishop  Neumann  seems  to  have  had  a  presentiment 
of  his  approaching  death.  A  few  days  before  the  sad 
event  that  was  to  rob  the  diocese  of  one  of  the  bright- 
est stars  that  ever  gleamed  in  its  episcopal  hierarchy,  he 
went  to  the  Redemptorist  convent  of  St.  Peter's  and, 
whilst  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  Superior,  he  engaged  in 
conversation  with  one  of  the  lay-brothers.  "  Brother," 
said  he  abruptly  after  a  pause,  "  which  would  you  pre- 
fer, a  sudden  death  or  one  preceded  by  a  long  illness  ?" 
The  Brother  thought  that  the  latter  would  be  an  excel- 
lent preparation  for  the  passage  to  eternity;  whereupon 
the  Bishop  replied:  "A  Christian,  still  more  a  religious, 
should  always  be  prepared  for  a  good  death,  and  in  that 
case  a  sudden  one  is  not  without  its  advantages.  It 
spares  us,  as  well  as  our  attendants,  many  a  temptation 
to  impatience;  and  besides,  the  devil  has  not  so  much 
time  to  trouble  us.  In  either  case,  however,  the  death 
that  God  sends  is  the  best  for  us." 

This  apparent  premonition  of  his  own  demise  was 
soon,  alas  !  to  become  a  reality  for  the  saintly  speaker. 
Farther  on  we  shall  record  another  and  a  very  striking 
remark  made  by  him  to  his  reverend  nephew  on  the 
same  subject. 


43O  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  XII. 
Death  and  Obsequies  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

ON  Thursday,  January  5,  1860,  Bishop  Neumann 
showed  symptoms  of  unusual  suffering,  though  he 
continued  to  work  on  uncomplainingly  and  unremit- 
tingly. At  the  dinner-table  he  endeavored  to  conceal  his 
condition  from  the  members  of  his  household  by  relating 
an  amusing  anecdote  of  his  early  life.  We  give  it  as  we 
had  it  from  the  lips  of  his  Coadjutor,  the  late  Archbishop 
Wood: 

"  As  we  sat  at  dinner  that  last  day  of  his  life,  Bishop 
Neumann,  though  evidently  suffering,  told  us  the  follow- 
ing story.  '  How  simple-hearted,'  he  began, '  are  the  good 
people  in  the  Old  Country  !  When,  having  finished  my 
studies,  I  was  making  preparations  for  my  journey  to 
America,  the  report  of  my  intended  departure  spread 
throughout  the  little  town.  Neighbors  and  relatives 
flocked  to  say  farewell  and  to  wish  me  a  safe  voyage. 
One  of  my  friends  from  the  country  drew  me  aside  and, 
in  a  low  voice,  said:  "John,  you  are  going  on  a  long 
and  dangerous  voyage.  Now,  take  my  advice.  Here 
are  two  gold  pieces.  When  you  go  on  board  the  ship, 
just  slip  them  into  the  captain's  hand  and  say, '  Captain, 
here  are  two  gold  pieces  for  you,  on  condition  that  you 
always  steer  the  ship  in  shallow  water  near  the  land.' 
For  you  see,"  continued  my  friend,  "if  anything  should 
happen  to  the  ship,  you  could  save  yourself  by  swim- 
ming." '  We  laughed  heartily  at  this  piece  of  simplicity, 
little  thinking  that  it  was  the  last  anecdote  we  should 
hear  from  the  lips  of  our  beloved  Bishop." 

Dinner    over,    Father  Urbanczek,    C.SS.R.,  was    an- 


Death  and  Obsequies  of  Bishop  Neumann.   431 

nounced;  and,  to  the  surprise  of  the  reverend  visitor, 
Bishop  Neumann,  his  former  confrere,  appeared  at 
first  hardly  to  recognize  him.  Approaching  nearer 
and  gazing  steadily  at  the  Bishop's  countenance, 
Father  Urbanczek  noticed  that  his  eyes  wore  a  glassy 
appearance.  He  inquired  whether  he  was  sick;  to 
which  the  Bishop  answered:  "I  have  a  strange  feeling 
to-day;  I  never  felt  so  before.  I  have  to  go  out  on  a  lit- 
tle business,  and  the  fresh  air  will  do  me  good." 

The  Father,  thinking  nothing  serious  the  matter,  took 
his  leave,  and  the  Bishop  went  to  have  a  deed  con- 
nected with  some  church-property  legally  signed. 
Returning  home,  he  took  the  north  side  of  Vine  Street. 
On  reaching  Tenth,  he  met  an  acquaintance,  one  of  his 
flock,  who  saluted  him  in  passing,  but  noticed  a  certain 
unsteadiness  in  his  gait  like  that  produced  by  vertigo. 
Three  squares  above,  near  Thirteenth  Street,  the  Bishop 
suddenly  staggered  and  fell  on  the  steps  of  one  of  the 
private  residences.  He  was  immediately  borne  into  the 
house  and  stretched  on  the  floor,  a  pillow  supporting 
his  head.  Physicians  were  summoned  in  haste,  efforts 
were  made  to  restore  him,  but  all  in  vain.  A  few  deep- 
drawn  sighs,  and  the  beautiful  soul  had  abandoned  its 
earthly  tenement. 

Meanwhile  the  gentleman  who  had  seen  the  Bishop 
fall  hastened  at  full  speed  to  give  the  alarm.  The 
episcopal  residence  was  only  about  six  squares  off,  and 
the  Bishop's  secretary  was  soon  on  the  spot  with  the 
holy  oils.  But  too  late:  the  noble,  saintly  soul  had 
departed  to  a  better,  brighter  world.  Loosened  from 
the  things  of  earth,  it  had  flown  to  that  resting-place 
to  which  it  had  so  often  risen  in  prayerful  desire,  the 
bosom  of  its  God.  It  was  just  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  when  the  servant  of  God  appeared  before  his 
Lord  and  his  Judge,  in  whom  he  had  believed  and 
hoped,  whom  he  had  so  devotedly  loved,  whom  he  had 
so  faithfully  served  during  his  short  career. 


43 2  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

No  relative,  no  friend,  no  one  of  all  those  laborers  in 
"  the  vineyard  "  whom  a  word  from  him  could  have  as- 
sembled in  scores,  stood  by  that  death-scene.  Alone, 
unaided,  abandoned  we  might  almost  say,  his  life  went 
out.  Had  he  prayed  for  this  ?  Doubtless  he  had.  We 
know  of  his  deep  love  and  devotion  toward  the  Sacred 
Passion  of  his  Lord;  we  know  the  device  of  his  own 
choosing  when  raised  to  the  episcopate — "  Passio  Christi, 
conforta  me!" — and,  if  we  do  not  know  for  a  certainty, 
we  have  reason  to  believe  ourselves  not  far  from  the 
truth  when  we  say  that,  like  unto  his  Divine  Master 
in  life,  he  had  prayed  to  resemble  Him  also  in  death. 
And  so  closed  that  life  of  scarcely  forty-nine  years — 
so  short  in  days,  so  full  in  works  !  Truly  may  it  be 
said  of  him,  "  He  fulfilled  a  long  course  in  a  short 
time." 

The  news  of  the  calamity  that  had  befallen  the  diocese 
spread  like  wildfire  through  the  city,  and  was  tele- 
graphed in  all  directions.  The  announcement  was  not 
credited:  Bishop  Neumann  had  not  been  ill;  on  the 
contrary,  he  was  regarded  as  a  man  of  robust  health. 
But  alas  !  the  painful  truth  soon  forced  itself  upon 
even  the  most  incredulous.  The  next  day,  Friday,  was 
the  Feast  of  the  Epiphany.  The  pastors  of  the  differ- 
ent churches  announced  to  their  congregations  that 
their  holy  prelate  had  died  suddenly  the  evening  before 
of  apoplexy,  and  recommended  him  to  their  prayers. 
On  the  Sunday  following,  the  loss  the  diocese  had 
sustained  was  again  announced  by  the  officiating  clergy- 
men in  all  the  churches,  and  was  made  the  theme  of 
many  touching  remarks.  In  St.  John's,  Rev.  E.  J. 
Sourin,  now  of  the  Society  of  Jesus,  preached,  embody- 
ing in  his  sermon  the  following  beautiful  tribute  to  the 
deceased  Bishop's  memory: 

"This  church  is  the  pro-Cathedral,  and  this  is, 
properly  speaking,  the  Bishop's  congregation.  Hence  I 
deem  it  well  to  remind  you  that  one  of  the  last  acts  of 


Death  and  Obsequies  of  Bishop  Neumann.    433 

that  truly  learned,  devoted,  and  saintly  prelate  was  to 
invoke,  during  the  Pontifical  Mass  which  he  celebrated 
here  a  few  days  ago,  a  last  blessing  upon  you  all.  The 
last  time  I  visited  him  I  noticed  that  he  was  very  un- 
well, and  I  begged  to  be  allowed  to  call  in  a  physician 
for  him.  But  he  answered,  with  a  smile:  'I  shall  be 
well  enough  to-morrow.'  The  following  day  he  went  on 
one  of  his  usual  errands  for  the  benefit  of  the  diocese, 
and  did  not  again  return. 

"  Having  been  closely  associated  with  the  Bishop  as 
Vicar-General,  I  can  testify  that  upon  many  occasions 
he  was  unable  when  retiring  at  midnight  to  utter  a 
word  to  any  one,  so  exhausted  was  he  with  the  arduous 
labors  of  the  day.  It  has  been  remarked  that  it  is 
strange  that  he  died  so  suddenly,  so  strong  and  robust 
did  he  always  appear, — and  indeed  he  seemed  to  have 
an  iron  constitution.  Yet  such  labors  as  he  underwent 
would,  sooner  or  later,  weigh  down  the  strongest  man. 
It  is  now  eight  years  since  the  Bishop  came  among  us. 
From  the  first  day  to  the  moment  of  his  death,  the 
period  has  been  one  of  labor  and  suffering.  He  knew 
very  well,  my  dear  brethren,  that  in  this  city  there 
were  many  who  wished,  as  an  occupant  for  the  episco- 
pate of  this  diocese,  a  man  more  according  to  the  judg- 
ment and  tastes  of  the  world.  He  therefore  tried  to 
avoid  the  cross  laid  upon  him,  and  to  shun  the  dignity. 
It  was  only  when  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  it  was 
the  will  of  God,  manifested  to  him  through  the  Pope, 
that  he  should  accept  that  mitre  and  that  crozier,  that 
he  consented  to  do  so.  It  was  with  the  same  spirit  of 
self-sacrifice  that  he  dwelt  among  us.  He  labored 
through  every  part  of  the  diocese,  and,  undoubtedly, 
did  more  for  its  better  organization  and  for  the  spread 
of  piety  through  the  various  congregations  than  might 
have  been  done  by  another  in  even  ten  or  twenty  years. 
He  was  a  providential  man  for  this  diocese.  He  spared 
himself  in  nothing.  He  has,  therefore,  received  the 


434  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

noblest,  highest  recompense  that  a  priest  or  Bishop  can 
desire — to  fall  laboring  in  his  Master's  service.  He  was 
called  away  in  the  midst  of  his  toils,  his  duties,  and  his 
sufferings.  There  was  not  in  the  United  States  a  priest 
or  a  Bishop  his  superior  in  zeal  for  souls.  Besides  his 
literary  acquirements  he  was  a  profound  theologian. 
When  any  one  of  us  was  in  doubt  respecting  some  sub- 
ject in  theology,  he  could  go  to  him  for  advice  and  at 
once  receive  the  desired  explanation.  .  .  ." 

On  Saturday  morning,  January  7th,  the  remains  of 
the  right  reverend  prelate  were  laid  in  state  in  the 
sanctuary  of  the  Cathedral  Chapel,  the  coffin  surrounded 
by  lighted  tapers,  at  the  head  the  famous  Genoese  cru- 
cifix. The  chapel  was  heavily  draped,  and  thronged 
from  morn  till  night  by  the  faithful  anxious  for  a  last 
look  at  their  beloved  Bishop.  For  three  days  there  was 
one  continuous  procession  in  the  direction  of  the  Cathe- 
dral. The  members  of  the  Conference  of  St.  Vincent  de 
Paul  attached  to  the  parish  acted  day  and  night  as  a 
guard  of  honor  around  the  venerated  remains. 

At  an  early  hour  on  Monday  morning,  January  pth, 
the  Catholic  community  of  Philadelphia  was  astir  and 
moving  toward  the  Cathedral.  At  nine  o'clock  six 
venerable  priests  took  up  the  remains  and  bore  them  to 
the  magnificent  funeral-car  with  its  sable  plumes.  The 
funeral-procession  was  the  largest  ever  witnessed  in 
Philadelphia.  It  moved  slowly  down  Eighteenth  Street 
to  Chestnut,  down  Chestnut  to  Thirteenth,  and  up  Thir- 
teenth to  St.  John's,  the  pro-Cathedral.  The  order  of 
the  funeral-cortege  was  as  follows:  a  body  of  city 
police;  military  company  with  ^band;  eight  literary 
societies;  twenty-seven  beneficial  societies  and  confer- 
ences; thirteen  societies  from  Baltimore  in  full  regalia; 
the  orphans;  the  students  of  the  ecclesiastical  semina- 
ries; and  one  hundred  reverend  gentlemen  of  the  clergy. 
Although  the  weather  was  unfavorable,  yet  the  streets 
were  thronged  to  witness  these  last  sad  honors  to  the 


Death  and  Obsequies  of  Bishop  Neumann.    435 

illustrious  dead.  The  police  with  difficulty  opened  a 
way  for  the  procession.  Roofs  in  every  direction  were 
covered,  and  every  window  was  filled  with  spectators, 
who  gazed  with  emotion  upon  the  calm  face  of  their  de- 
ceased prelate.  The  grand  funeral-car  formed  the  cen- 
tre of  interest;  to  it  all  eyes  were  turned.  But  perhaps 
the  most  touching  feature  in  this  mournful  pageant  was 
that  presented  by  the  two  imposing  figures  directly  be- 
hind the  car,  Rev.  Fathers  Egidius  Smulders  and  Henry 
Giesen,  C.SS.R.,  whose  true  hearts  mourned  the  loss  of 
him  who  lay  before  them  with  folded  hands  and  peace- 
ful smile.  Faithful  to  him  in  life  and  loved  by  him  in 
life  with  the  tender  love  of  a  child  for  a  mother,  the 
Congregation  of  the  Most  Holy  Redeemer  abandoned 
not  in  death  him  of  whom  they  have  every  right  to 
boast.  They  surrounded  his  remains  with  all  the  ex- 
pressions of  affection  and  honor  that  loyal  hearts  could 
suggest.  His  memory  is  held  by  them  in  benediction, 
his  virtues  as  models  for  imitation. 

When  the  funeral-train  reached  St.  John's,  six  of  the 
clergy  again  acted  as  pall-bearers  and  bore  the  remains 
from  the  hearse  to  the  richly  adorned  catafalque  pre- 
pared before  the  high  altar.  The  body  was  so  placed 
as  to  leave  the  features  of  the  deceased  plainly  visible. 
The  whole  interior  of  the  church  was  heavily  draped, 
pillars  and  ceiling,  sanctuary  and  nave,  all  shrouded  in 
the  sombre  hue  of  mourning.  The  scene  was  indescrib- 
ably solemn. 

On  the  right  of  the  catafalque  stood  the  walnut  coffin 
with  its  rich  purple  lining  and  covering  of  black  cloth, 
at  the  head  a  cushion  of  purple  satin  with  silver  tassels  and 
trimmings.  A  heavy  silver  plate  and  cross  on  the  coffin- 
lid  bore  the  inscription:  "John  Nepomucene  Neumann, 
Fourth  Bishop  of  Philadelphia,  died  January  5,  1860." 

As  soon  as  the  body  had  been  placed  in  position,  Right 
Rev.  Bishop  Wood  celebrated  the  solemn  Requiem,  and 
the  clergy  and  seminarians  recited  the  Office  of  the 


436  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

Dead.  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  Kenrick  of  Baltimore, 
Right  Rev.  Bishop  Wood  of  Philadelphia,  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  McGill  of  Richmond,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Loughlin 
of  Brooklyn,  and  Right  Rev.  Boniface  Wimmer,  mitred 
Abbot  of  St.  Vincent's  Abbey,  Pa.,  officiated  at  the 
Libera.  The  funeral-oration  was  delivered  by  Most 
Rev.  Archbishop  Kenrick  of  Baltimore.  The  news- 
paper report  of  this  oration  was  very  defective,  but,  for- 
tunately, the  original  was  found  among  the  Archbishop's 
manuscripts  after  his  death.  Like  all  his  other  produc- 
tions, it  is  simple  in  style  and  moderate  in  expression. 
It  is  a  document  well  worthy  of  preservation,  one  that 
forms  an  interesting  chapter  in  our  ecclesiastical  history. 
Two  circumstances  combine  to  clothe  the  obsequies  of 
Bishop  Neumann  with  more  than  ordinary  interest.  Of 
the  two  distinguished  prelates,  one  the  lately  deceased, 
the  other  the  orator  of  the  occasion,  one  was  from  Bohe- 
mia, the  other  from  Ireland.  Both,  like  the  Apostles, 
had  left  all  to  follow  Christ,  to  devote  themselves  heart 
and  soul  to  the  American  missions,  "the  charity  of 
Christ"  urging  them.  From  remote  parts  of  Europe, 
living  under  widely  different  governments  and  institu- 
tions, speaking  different  languages,  with  nothing  in 
common  but  their  faith  and  their  charity,  they  had  been 
brought  together  on  this  distant  continent,  and  had  zeal- 
ously labored  side  by  side  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  Their 
faith  had  made  them  brothers.  Only  the  Catholic 
Church  with  its  world-wide  sympathies  growing  out  of 
its  blended  unity  and  catholicity  can  present  such  a  spec- 
tacle as  this.  Faith  levels  distinctions,  and  makes  one 
common  brotherhood  of  all  that  are  willing  to  come  under 
its  blessed  influence.  The  second  circumstance  referred 
to  is,  perhaps,  still  more  striking.  The  orator  that  pro- 
nounced this  eulogy  over  a  brother  so  suddenly  called 
away  from  the  scene  of  his  labors  was  himself  destined, 
little  more  than  three  years  later,  to  be  summoned  to  the 
bar  of  the  Just  Judge  in  a  manner  no  less  sudden.  It 


Death  and  Obseqiiies  of  Bishop  Neumann.    437 

would  almost  seem  that  the  saintly  Kenrick  was  fore- 
shadowing his  own  death  whilst  portraying  the  awful 
suddenness  of  that  of  his  deceased  brother-Bishop;  and 
we  readily  and  vividly  apply  to  his  own  end  those  warn- 
ing words  of  his  which,  doubtless,  he  himself  heeded 
in  their  fullest  import  and  most  solemn  signification: 
"  Remember  that  heaven  is  your  home.  Be  mindful  of  the 
uncertainty  of  life,  and  live  with  a  deep  consciousness  that 
every  day  may  be  your  last.  WHEN  YOU  GO  OUT  TO  ATTEND 

TO  YOUR  AFFAIRS,  UNDERSTAND  WELL  THAT  YOU  MAY  NOT 
RETURN  TO  YOUR  HOME  ALIVE.  WHEN  YOU  LIE  DOWN  TO 
REST,  BE  FULLY  SENSIBLE  THAT  THE  MORNING  MAY  FIND 

YOU  A  CORPSE."  Of  the  last  two  sentences,  the  former 
describes  the  manner  of  Bishop  Neumann's  death;  the 
latter  that  of  the  holy  Archbishop  himself,  for  he  was 
found  one  morning  dead  in  his  bed.  The  coincidence  is 
striking.  It  would  almost  seem  that  he  had  a  presenti- 
ment of  his  own  end. 

The  following  is  the  Archbishop's  sermon  as  we  have 
it  in  the  first  rough  draft: 

"  When  our  Lord  gave  the  solemn  warning  to  be  ready 
for  His  coming,  because  the  day  or  hour  could  not  be 
known,  Peter  inquired  of  Him  whether  it  was  designed 
for  His  select  disciples  or  for  all  men  in  general.  The 
Divine  Teacher,  without  directly  answering  the  question 
proposed,  proceeded  to  describe  the  faithful  and  wise 
steward  to  whom  the  care  of  the  household  is  entrusted, 
that  he  may  distribute  to  the  domestics  their  allowance 
in  due  time.  Such  a  one  is  the  type  of  an  apostle  or  a 
disciple  called  by  the  Lord  to  preside  over  His  family, 
who  should  discharge  the  duties  of  his  office  with  fidelity, 
in  daily  expectation  of  being  surprised  by  the  arrival  of 
his  Master.  The  suddenness  of  the  visitation  is  not  to 
be  feared  by  the  faithful  and  wise  servant,  since  he  is 
happy  because  found  engaged  in  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  his  charge,  and  is  rewarded  with  higher  gifts 
and  greater  proofs  of  confidence.  This  instruction  is 


438  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

specially  applicable  to  the  prelates  of  the  Church, 
although  it  is  not  confined  to  them  exclusively.  It  is  for 
all. 

"  You  must  perceive,  brethren,  the  force  of  the  warn- 
ing, and  the  illustration  in  reference  to  the  prelate  whose 
obsequies  we  are  celebrating.  He  was  truly  a  faithful 
and  wise  steward,  set  over  the  family  of  the  Lord  by 
divine  appointment,  to  distribute  and  to  dispense  the 
means  of  sanctification  and  salvation.  He  was  not  un- 
mindful that  his  Lord  might  come  at  any  time,  on  a  day 
and  at  an  hour  least  expected,  as  in  fact  He  did  come. 
But  although  suddenly  snatched  away,  the  good  prelate 
was  blessed,  because  his  Lord  found  him  doing  the 
duties  of  his  sacred  office,  and  rewarded  him,  we  may 
well  presume,  with  admission  to  a  participation  of  the 
divine  glory  and  happiness.  For  my  part,  I  have  no  fears 
or  misgivings  on  this  subject.  From  my  intimate  knowl- 
edge of  his  virtues  and  labors,  I  entertain  full  confidence 
that  he  has  found  acceptance.  Yet  the  Church  wisely 
offers  up  prayers  and  sacrifice  for  him,  and  for  every  one 
however  holy  and  perfect  he  may  appear,  because  the 
divine  judgments  are  different  from  those  of  men.  Im- 
perfection is  found  in  actions  which  win  our  admiration, 
and  even  saints  are  not  wholly  without  blemish,  since 
the  heavens  are  not  stainless  in  the  divine  sight.  The 
Pontiff  who  already  occupies  the  chair  so  recently  left 
vacant  begins  his  ministry  by  offering  the  Divine  Victim 
for  his  lamented  predecessor.  The  clergy,  assembled  in 
great  numbers  around  the  altar,  join  in  the  solemn  ob- 
lation for  the  repose  of  their  venerated  Father  in  Christ. 
The  pious  associations  which  he  fostered  fill  the  church 
to  unite  in  earnest  supplication.  Many  members  of  simi- 
lar institutes  from  Baltimore  are  present,  mingling  their 
fervent  orisons  for  their  former  pastor  with  those  of  his 
late  children.  Notwithstanding  the  confidence  inspired 
by  the  recollection  of  his  virtues,  we  dare  not  rest  on 
his  merits,  but,  awed  by  the  consideration  of  the  divine 


Death  and  Obsequies  of  BisJiop  Neumann.    439 

judgments,  we  repeat  the  supplication  of  the  Psalmist: 
'  Enter  not  into  judgment  with  Thy  servant,  O  Lord,  for 
no  man  living  shall  be  justified  in  Thy  sight.' 

"Brethren,  although  our  chief  duty  is  to  pray  for  the 
soul  of  the  departed  prelate,  yet  it  is  permitted  me  to 
say  some  words  in  his  praise  for  your  edification.  I  feel 
the  delicacy  and  the  danger  of  eulogizing  a  frail  mortal 
in  this  sanctuary,  before  this  altar,  in  the  presence  of 
God,  who  wills  not  that  flesh  be  glorified  in  His  sight. 
Yet  I  do  not  fear  that  anything  exaggerated  shall  escape 
my  lips  on  this  occasion — anything  that  might  be  cen- 
sured by  those  intimately  acquainted  with  the  deceased. 

"He  was  born  in  Bohemia,  on  the  28th  of  March,  1811, 
which  was  Good-Friday.  I  know  nothing  of  his  early 
life,  but  that  he  made  his  studies  with  marked  success, 
and  attained  high  literary  honors  in  the  University  of 
Prague.  From  his  subsequent  career  it  is  fair  to  judge 
that  piety  and  innocence  characterized  his  youth.  Divine 
Providence  led  him  forth  from  the  house  of  his  father, 
who  even  now  survives,  and  from  his  fatherland,  to  these 
distant  shores.  The  late  venerable  Bishop  of  New  York, 
John  Dubois,  being  satisfied  with  the  testimonials  which 
he  presented,  and  with  the  proofs  of  piety  which  he  gave 
during  the  short  time  of  special  preparation,  ordained 
him  priest  in  June,  1836.  His  ministry  was  exercised 
for  some  years  in  the  western  part  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  Either  from  an  apprehension  of  the  dangers  in- 
cidental to  the  secular  priesthood  or  from  a  desire  of 
religious  perfection,  he  joined  the  Order  of  the  Redemp- 
torists,  founded  in  Italy  about  a  century  before  by  St. 
Alphonsus  Liguori.  But  few  members  of  it  were  in  this 
country,  scattered  in  various  places;  and  though  having 
scarcely  any  facilities  for  practising  the  duties  of  a  con- 
ventual life,  yet  he  entered  into  it  with  so  great  fervor 
that  he  became  thoroughly  imbued  with  the  spirit  of  the 
holy  founder,  and  was  appointed  Superior  of  his  breth- 
ren, to  lead  them  onward  in  the  sublime  ways  of  perfec- 


440  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

tion.  While  applying  himself  with  intense  ardor  to  the 
interior  and  contemplative  life,  he  did  not  neglect  those 
external  functions  which  are  directed  to  the  conversion 
of  sinners,  the  favorite  object  of  the  institute.  His 
apostolical  labors  in  Pittsburg,  Baltimore,  and  various 
other  cities  and  in  country  missions  were  constant, 
zealous,  and  marked  with  great  fruit.  He  was  the  chief 
projector  and  builder  of  the  beautiful  church  of  St. 
Philomena  in  Pittsburg.  It  is  impossible  to  relate  in 
detail  his  successful  efforts  to  establish  pious  confrater- 
nities, schools,  and  asylums;  his  incessant  preaching;  his 
assiduous  attendance  at  the  confessional,  accompanied 
with  a  supernatural  influence  in  the  guidance  of  souls. 
While  thus  pursuing  his  course  with  no  ambition  but 
that  of  gaining  souls  to  God,  an  event  occurred  which  gave 
occasion  to  iiis  promotion  to  the  episcopate,  and  placed 
as  it  were  on  the  candlestick  of  the  Church  the  light 
which  lay  concealed,  or  which  was  observable  only  by  a 
comparatively  small  number. 

"My  translation  from  this  see  to  the  metropolitan 
church  of  Baltimore  imposed  on  me  the  duty  of  pro- 
posing to  the  Holy  See,  with  the  advice  and  consent  of 
my  colleagues,  three  candidates,  that  one  of  the  number 
might  be  appointed  to  replace  me.  The  high  commen- 
dation given  by  the  distinguished  Bishop  of  Pittsburg 
of  Father  Neumann,  whom  he  had  intimately  known, 
induced  me  to  place  his  name  second  on  the  list.  I  do 
not  mean  to  insinuate  that  the  Bishop  recommended 
that  he  should  be  proposed;  but  as  I  deemed  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  German  language  an  important  qualification 
for  a  prelate  in  a  diocese  containing  so  large  a  popula- 
tion speaking  that  tongue,  he  named  him  as  a  priest  of 
eminent  merit.  It  pleased  the  Holy  Father  to  appoint 
the  humble  Redemptorist  to  this  high  office,  and,  in 
order  to  prevent  disappointment,  he  enjoined  on  him 
under  obedience  to  submit  to  the  Divine  Will.  Thus  all 
hesitation  was  removed,  and  the  consecration  of  the 


Death  and  Obsequies  of  Bishop  Neumann.    441 

Bishop-elect  took  place  in  the  church  of  St.  Alphonsus, 
Baltimore,  on  Passion-Sunday,  which  by  a  remarkable 
coincidence  fell  in  the  year  1852  on  the  28th  of  March, 
his  birthday.  The  sacrifice  of  his  feelings  in  this  cir- 
cumstance can  only  be  estimated  by  those  who  knew  his 
deep  humility  and  great  love  of  the  religious  state.  He 
felt  as  if  he  were  torn  from  his  loved  retreat,  and  from 
the  society  of  his  brethren,  to  be  exposed  to  the  gaze  of 
a  proud  world,  likely  to  scorn  the  lowliness  of  his  ap- 
pearance and  the  simplicity  of  his  manners.  He  dreaded 
the  responsibility  of  governing  a  flock  so  vast,  and  of 
managing  interests  so  complicated,  for  which  his  re- 
tired habits  had  not  prepared  him.  He  feared  lest  the 
difference  of  nationalities  might  impede  and  embar- 
rass his  efforts,  if  not  wholly  defeat  them.  But,  as  he 
had  not  sought  or  desired  the  post,  he  went  forward,  re- 
lying not  on  himself,  but  on  God,  who  strengthens  the 
weak  and  effects  His  high  counsels  by  the  instruments 
of  His  own  choice,  to  show  forth  His  power  and  mercy. 
"Brethren,  I  may  well  appeal  to  you  as  to  the  manner 
in  which  the  venerable  prelate  fulfilled  the  duties  of  his 
high  office  during  the  period  which  has  since  elapsed, 
almost  eight  years.  You  will  testify  to  his  blameless  life 
and  unfeigned  piety.  The  constant  visitation  of  his 
diocese,  throughout  almost  the  whole  year,  marked  him 
as  the  good  shepherd  anxious  to  afford  his  sheep  the 
pastures  of  life  eternal.  He  usually  spent  three  days  in' 
each  congregation,  preaching,  hearing  confessions,  en- 
rolling applicants  in  religious  confraternities,  and  other- 
wise laboring  to  render  permanent  the  fruits  of  his  visi- 
tation. The  conferences  and  synods  which  he  held  with 
his  clergy  disclosed  to  them  treasures  of  ecclesiastical 
learning  which  filled  them  with  astonishment.  The  in- 
troduction of  the  devotion  of  the  Forty  Hours  irt  honor 
of  the  Divine  Eucharist  enlivened  the  faith  and  excited 
the  piety  of  his  flock,  while  it  stimulated  other  prelates 
to  encourage  the  same  pious  exercises.  The  earnestness 


44 2  Life  of  Bishop  Neitmann. 

with  which  he  promoted  Catholic  schools  showed  how 
deeply  impressed  he  was  with  the  necessity  of  religious 
education  in  order  to  secure  the  perseverance  of  the  ris- 
ing generation  in  faith  and  virtue.  The  many  religious 
institutions  which  he  established  attest  his  untiring  zeal 
and  charity.  Truly  he  has  been  an  active  and  devoted 
prelate,  living  only  for  his  flock.  To  his  clergy  he  has 
been  full  of  tenderness.  With  those  whom  he  ordained 
he  was  as  a  father  with  his  children;  and  to  all  he  was 
just  and  kind,  teaching  them  more  by  example  than  by 
word  to  be  in  all  things  without  offence,  that  our  minis- 
try may  not  be  blamed.  His  solicitude  for  their  sancti- 
fication  appeared  in  the  annual  retreats  to  which  he 
invited  them.  Their  affections  were  daily  more  and 
more  won  by  him,  without  effort  on  his  part  beyond  the 
constant  exhibition  of  paternal  kindness.  To  the  laity 
he  was  a  devoted  pastor,  always  accessible  and  ready  to 
discharge  the  duties  of  his  office,  although  his  habits  of 
retirement  gave  him,  in  the  early  part  of  his  episcopate, 
an  appearance  of  reserve  which  estranged  from  him  the 
more  fashionable  classes.  The  poor,  the  humble,  always 
found  him  kind,  condescending,  indulgent.  His  chari- 
ties were  abundant.  In  order  to  be  serviceable  to  all, 
he  studied  various  modern  tongues  besides  the  learned 
languages  which  he  had  mastered  in  his  university 
course,  and  he  actually  acquired  some  of  the  most  diffi- 
cult, with  the  least  means  for  attaining  to  their  knowl- 
edge. He  had,  indeed,  great  natural  aptitude  for  learn- 
ing, and  his  literary  taste  manifested  itself  not  merely  in 
theological  pursuits,  but  in  astronomy,  botany,  chemis- 
try, and  various  sciences  directed  to  improve  and  delight 
the  mind.  The  treasures  of  learning  concealed  under 
his  humble  exterior  are  scarcely  credible  to  those  who 
did  not  know  him  intimately.  We  prize  him,  however, 
for  his  piety  and  devotion  far  more  than  for  his  literary 
and  scientific  endowments,  and  value  more  the  humility 
Of  his  deportment,  the  purity  of  his  life,  the  zeal  with 


Death  and  Obsequies  of  Bishop  Neumann.    443 

which  he  sought  the  salvation  of  souls,  than  the  honors 
which  crowned  his  studies  in  the  university. 

"It  is  as  a  pastor  watching  over  his  flock  that  he  is 
specially  worthy  of  our  veneration.  Among  the  means 
employed  by  him  to  promote  their  spiritual  welfare  are 
the  missions  given  by  members  of  the  religious  Order 
to  which  he  had  belonged.  The  preaching  of  the  Di- 
vine Word  by  those  zealous  missionaries,  with  various 
exercises  of  piety,  during  one  or  two  weeks,  in  various 
parishes  of  this  city  and  diocese,  have  brought  thousands 
upon  thousands  of  neglectful  souls  to  the  Sacraments 
after  years  of  delinquency. 

"  While  he  discharged  all  the  duties  of  his  sacred 
office  with  fidelity  and  success,  he  always  remained  de- 
tached from  its  honors  and  eager  to  return  to  the  pri- 
vacy of  the  cloister,  where  his  heart  still  was.  He  ten- 
dered at  various  times  his  resignation,  judging  himself 
incompetent  to  preside  in  so  eminent  a  diocese,  which 
he  was  ready  to  abandon  for  a  country  town  if  his  de- 
sire for  seclusion  could  not  be  gratified.  If  he  appeared 
in  any  circumstance  tenacious  of  his  prerogative,  it  was 
only  under  a  sense  of  duty. 

"  Brethren,  it  may  be  a  matter  of  surprise,  as  it  is  of 
regret,  that  so  holy  a  prelate  should  be  so  suddenly 
snatched  out  of  life,  without  a  moment's  warning  save 
some  symptoms  which,  although  strange,  did  not  excite 
alarm.  Just  after  he  had  attended  to  a  legal  transaction 
by  acknowledging  some  instrument  before  a  magistrate, 
in  apparent  health,  leaving  the  office  he  crossed  the 
street,  sat  down  on  the  steps  of  a  house,  fell,  and  died. 
How  melancholy  an  end  !  Without  the  comforts  of 
home,  the  aid  of  physicians,  the  solace  of  friends,  the 
consolations  of  religion,  as  a  houseless  stranger  he  ex- 
pired. But  what  matters  it,  brethren  ?  He  was  pre- 
pared to  die  at  any  moment,  for  he  lived  by  faith  and 
walked  with  God.  Each  year  of  his  life  he  passed  ten  days 
in  retreat  preparing  for  death  ;  each  month  he  observed 


444  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

a  day  of  special  recollection  in  the  same  spirit ;  each 
morning  he  meditated  on  heavenly  things  ;  each  hour, 
and  almost  each  moment,  his  soul  communed  with  God. 
The  death  of  such  a  man  could  not  be  unhappy.  What 
matters  it  that  God  knocked  not  at  the  door  of  his  heart 
to  apprise  him  of  His  coming  ?  He  was  busy  doing  his 
Master's  will :  and  '  blessed  is  that  servant  whom  his  Lord, 
when  he  shall  come,  shall  find  so  doing.1  The  prisoner 
who  sighs  for  liberty  loses  nothing  of  satisfaction  by 
the  sudden  opening  of  the  door  of  his  dungeon  at  a 
time  when  he  thinks  not  that  his  liberation  is  at  hand. 
We  have  reason  to  believe  that,  after  the  few  sighs  and 
groans  which  nature  gave  as  tokens  of  departing  life, 
the  spirit  of  the  good  prelate  joyously  soared  aloft,  to 
commingle  with  the  holy  pastors  who  in  every  age  ruled 
well  the  respective  portions  of  the  flock,  and  now  trium- 
phant wear  the  unfading  crown  with  which  the  Prince  of 
the  shepherds  has  rewarded  their  fidelity.  His  soul  now 
communes  with  the  Ambroses,  the  Augustines,  the  Gre- 
gories,  and  especially  with  the  sainted  Alphonsus,  whom 
he  imitated  so  diligently.  With  them  he  praises  God 
for  the  multitude  of  His  mercies,  and  gives  Him  homage. 
"Brethren,  the  sudden  death  of  your  Bishop  is  a 
solemn  warning  for  us  and  for  all.  We  are  admonished 
to  be  always  ready,  for  we  know  not  the  day  nor  the 
hour  when  the  Lord  will  come.  We  are  warned  never 
to  remain  in  a  state  of  sin,  never  to  falter  in  the  per- 
formance of  our  religious  duties.  It  is  an  intimation 
given  to  us  that  we  may  receive  a  hasty  summons,  which 
we  should  be  prepared  to  meet.  Be  careful,  then,  to 
fulfil  well  the  duties  of  your  respective  stations,  to  cor- 
respond faithfully  with  every  grace  divinely  imparted, 
to  walk  before  God  in  fear  and  love,  in  the  observance 
of  His  commandments.  Live  as  strangers  and  pilgrims; 
abstain  from  carnal  lusts,  which  war  against  the  soul. 
Remember  that  heaven  is  your  home.  Be  mindful  of 
the  uncertainty  of  life,  and  live  with  a  deep  conscious- 


Death  and  Obsequies  of  Bishop  Neumann.    445 

ness  that  every  day  may  be  your  last.  When  you  go 
out  to  attend  to  your  affairs,  understand  well  that  you 
may  not  return  alive  to  your  home.  When  you  lie  down 
to  rest,  be  fully  sensible  that  the  morning  may  find  you 
a  corpse.  Commend  your  souls  to  God,  and  implore 
Htm  to  forgive  you  your  manifold  faults  and  transgres- 
sions. Ask  of  Him  to  guard  you  against  the  many  dan- 
gers which  beset  you.  Ask  of  Him  to  bestow  His  grace 
abundantly  upon  you,  that,  in  whatever  circumstances 
you  may  die,  your  soul  may  be  received  into  that 
kingdom  into  which  nothing  defiled  can  enter.  Ask 
of  Him  that  you  may  be  found  doing  His  will,  and  be 
admitted  with  His  faithful  servants  to  share  their  happi- 
ness." 

Bishop  Neumann's  remains  were  to  have  been  in- 
terred at  St.  John's,  as  it  had  the  honor  of  being  the 
pro-Cathedral,  and  to  this  end  preparations  had  already 
been  begun.  But  when  Archbishop  Kenrick  arrived, 
other  arrangements  were  made.  Very  Rev.  Father 
de  Dycker,  C.SS.R.,  Provincial  of  the  Redemptorists, 
petitioned  the  Archbishop  to  allow  the  remains  to  be 
taken  to  St.  Peter's,  the  Redemptorist  church.  Arch- 
bishop Kenrick  granted  the  request  in  these  words:  "  I 
gladly  consent  to  Bishop  Neumann's  finding  after  death 
a  resting-place  where  he  sought  it  in  life  but  could  not 
find  it." 

The  services  over  at  St.  John's,  the  body  was  again 
conveyed  in  solemn  procession  to  St.  Peter's.  The 
distance  was  great,  and  the  journey  tedious.  The  pro- 
cession did  not  reach  St.  Peter's  till  four  that  after- 
noon. Whilst  the  remains  were  being  placed  on  the 
catafalque,  the  faithful  entered  the  church  in  such 
crowds  that  fears  were  entertained  of  some  disturbance. 
All  were  animated  by  one  desire,  that  of  looking  once 
more  on  the  countenance  of  the  deceased.  With  the 
aid  of  the  different  societies  connected  with  the  church, 
order  was  enforced.  The  crowds  moved  up  the  middle 


446  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

aisle,  gazed  upon  the  beloved  remains,  and  left  the 
church  by  the  side  aisles.  The  tide  of  visitors  lasted 
until  late  into  the  night.  At  eight  o'clock  the  Office  of 
the  Dead  was  recited  by  upward  of  fifty  clergymen, 
and  the  different  societies  took  turns  as  guards  of  honor 
till  the  next  morning.  On  the  following  day,  Tuesday, 
the  church  was  again  crowded.  At  eight  o'clock  a  sol- 
emn Requiem  was  celebrated  by  Right  Rev.  Bishop 
Wood,  the  new  incumbent  by  right  of  succession,  whilst 
the  sanctuary  was  filled  by  a  large  body  of  the  clergy 
belonging  to  the  city.  Before  the  Libera,  Rev.  Father 
Beranek,  C.SS.R.,  of  New  York,  pronounced  in  German 
a  beautiful  and  touching  eulogy  upon  the  deceased. 
He  alluded  to  the  great  affection  the  lamented  Bishop 
always  entertained  for  the  congregation  he  was  now 
addressing.  Here  it  was  that  he  had  made  his  retreats, 
here  he  had  frequently  administered  the  Sacrament  of 
Holy  Orders  and  performed  other  episcopal  functions. 
Here,  only  a  few  days  previously,  on  the  hallowed  feast 
of  Christmas,  he  had  celebrated  Pontifical  High  Mass 
at  midnight.  The  Father  then  spoke  of  the  heroic  vir- 
tues the  Bishop  had  practised  as  a  secular  priest,  when, 
forgetful  of  self,  he  thought  little  of  a  long  and  difficult 
journey  if  he  could  thereby  carry  the  consolations  of 
religion  to  even  a  few  souls.  The  reverend  speaker 
portrayed,  likewise,  the  vast  and  manifold  labors  in 
which' the  saintly  prelate  had  engaged  for  the  glory  of 
God,  and  touched  upon  the  innumerable  trials  he  had 
endured  till  death  heroically,  patiently,  submissively. 
He  then  made  a  practical  application  of  the  foregoing 
reflections,  and  encouraged  his  hearers  to  a  true,  active, 
and  disinterested  love  of  God.  He  closed  with  the 
remark  that  not  only  the  united  voices  of  friends  and 
brethren  were  now  rendering  homage  to  the  servant  of 
God,  but  that  God  Himself  seemed  to  lend  His  approval 
to  this  general  triumph,  since  the  appearance  of  the 
deceased  presented  no  change:  the  body  was  as  flexible 


Death  and  Obsequies  of  Bishop  Neumann.  447 

as  in  life,  although  they  reckoned  the  sixth  day  since 
his  demise. 

The  grand  tones  of  the  Libera  now  resounded  through 
the  sacred  edifice;  the  body  was  placed  in  the  coffin 
and,  followed  by  a  long  train  of  ecclesiastics,  borne  in 
solemn  state  to  the  chapel  below,  into  which  the  laity 
was  not  allowed  to  enter.  The  altar  of  this  chapel  lies 
under  the  sanctuary  of  the  church.  In  front  of  it  a 
small  vault  had  been  prepared,  into  which  the  body  of 
the  saintly  Bishop  was  lowered.  Tears  filled  the  eyes 
of  the  reverend  bystanders;  expressions  of  sincere  regret 
were  heard  on  all  sides,  and  the  words,  "  I  feel  as  if 
my  own  father  were  being  laid  to  rest,"  escaped  the  lips 
of  many. 

Solemn  funeral-services  were  offered  for  the  deceased 
not  only  in  the  diocese  of  Philadelphia  and  all  the  con- 
vents of  his  Congregation,  but  by  Bishops,  priests,  and 
religious  throughout  the  whole  country,  so  generally 
was  the  sainted  dead  loved  and  revered.  We  must 
not  fail  to  mention  the  sorrow  caused  by  the  news 
of  the  Bishop's  death  in  his  native  city  far  away  in  Bo- 
hemia. 

As  his  visit  to  his  fatherland,  five  years  before,  had 
been  hailed  by  demonstrations  of  the  liveliest  joy,  so  now 
the  news  of  his  sudden  death  cast  a  gloom  over  Pracha- 
titz  and  its  surroundings.  It  was  resolved  in  a  general 
assembly  to  celebrate  his  obsequies  in  his  native  city 
with  the  solemnity  due  his  exalted  rank  in  the  Church, 
March  2d  being  fixed  upon  for  the  same.  A  magnifi- 
cent catafalque  was  erected  and  adorned  with  the 
episcopal  insignia,  and  around  it  burned  numberless 
wax-lights.  The  services  began  on  the  eve  with  the 
chanting  of  the  Office  of  the  Dead  by  the  clergy  of  the 
city.  The  large  church  was  crowded.  Next  morning 
with  the  same  thronged  attendance  the  solemn 
Requiem  and  Libera  were  sung.  All  the  societies  and 
confraternities  of  the  city  were  present  with  lighted 


448  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

torches,  the  imperial  and  civic  officers  were  in  attend- 
ance— in  short,  the  whole  affair  was  a  magnificent 
tribute  to  the  deceased  prelate's  memory,  a  grand  evi- 
dence of  the  veneration  in  which  he  was  held  by  his 
countrymen. 

The  same  feelings  animated  the  discourse  pronounced 
by  the  Director  of  the  Schools,  Rev.  Joseph  Brunner. 
His  eloquent  sermon  made  a  deep  impression  on  his 
hearers. 

Nor  were  these  the  only  marks  of  esteem  paid  the 
saintly  Bishop  in  his  native  city.  Friends  and  relatives 
wished  to  honor  him  by  some  lasting  tribute  to  his 
memory.  After  mature  deliberation  it  was  resolved  to 
erect  in  the  cemetery  of  Prachatitz,  in  the  lot  belonging 
to  the  Neumann  family,  a  metal  statue  of  the  Blessed 
Virgin  under  the  title  of  the  Immaculate  Conception. 
On  the  pedestal,  in  gold  on  a  black  ground,  are  in- 
scribed the  words:  "  Mary  conceived  without  sin,  pray 
for  us  and  for  the  souls  of  our  friends  here  at  rest  in 
the  peace  of  Christ."  Lower  down  are  the  memorial 
words: 

"  To  the  True  Servant 

of  God, 

JOHN  NEPOMUCENE  NEUMANN, 
Born  at  Prachatitz,  March  28,  1811, 

Died 
January  5,  1860, 

as 

Bishop  of  Philadelphia, 

This  monument  was  erected  by  his 

Faithful  Friends." 

The  statue  of  Our  Lady  is  twelve  feet  in  height,  and 
is  a  handsome  specimen  of  art.  It  is  surrounded  by 
trees,  which  form  for  it  a  protecting  arbor,  and  furnished 
with  two  tall  lamps,  one  on  either  side.  This  beautiful 
and  generous  tribute  to  the  worth  of  the  deceased  was 
not  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  good  people  of  Prachatitz. 
They  devised  another  means  of  perpetuating  the  noble 


Death  and  Obsequies  of  Bishop  Neumann.   449 

and  saintly  prelate's  memory.  By  a  resolution  of  the 
municipal  authorities,  the  street  in  which  the  Neumann 
family  resided  was  thenceforward  to  be  known  as  Neu- 
mann Street.  The  Bishop  had,  with  the  consent  of  his 
brother  and  sisters,  bequeathed  his  patrimony  to  the 
Sisters  of  Charity.  With  it  they  erected  a  school  and 
orphanage,  to  the  great  and  permanent  advantage  of  the 
city  of  Prachatitz. 


450  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Bishop  Neumann's  Reputation  for  Sanctity. 
Extraordinary  Effects  of  his  Intercession. 

IF,  at  the  close  of  this  biography,  we  cast  a  retro- 
spective glance  at  the  virtuous  life,  the  labors,  the 
struggles,  and  sufferings  of  the  servant  of  God,  we  shall 
find  realized  in  him  the  words  of  the  Holy  Ghost:  "  The 
path  of  the  just  as  a  shining  light  goeth  forwards  and 
increaseth  even  to  perfect  day"  (Prov.  iv.  18). 

In  Bishop  Neumann's  case  this  light  of  the  just  shone 
forth  in  the  pious  child  and  in  the  aspiring  youth;  it 
was  resplendent  in  the  apostolic  priest  and  in  the  God- 
loving  religious;  but  when,  by  a  special  providence  of 
God,  he  was  placed  on  the  episcopal  candlestick,  its  lus- 
tre acquired  new  brilliancy,  its  rays  penetrated  all  parts 
of  his  diocese  and  reflected  far  beyond.  With  the  Apos- 
tle to  the  Gentiles,  this  shepherd  could  say  to  both  the 
clergy  and  laity  of  his  flock,  "  Imitatores  met  estate,  sicut  et 
ego  Jesu  Christi" — "Be  ye  followers  of  me,  as  I  am  also  a 
follower  of  Jesus  Christ."  The  servant  of  God  was,  in 
truth,  a  burning  and  shining  light  which  enlightened 
and  inflamed  with  the  love  of  God  all  that  approached 
him. 

It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  that  Almighty  God  has 
glorified  His  servant  both  in  life  and  in  death  by  a 
reputation  for  sanctity,  by  extraordinary  gifts  of  grace, 
and  by  remarkable  favors  granted  to  his  intercession. 

We  shall  mention  a  few  facts  gathered  from  reliable 
sources.  We  shall,  however,  premise  our  account  by 
declaring  that  we  have  neither  desire  nor  intention  to 


His  Reputation  for  Sanctity.  451 

anticipate  thereby  the  authority  of  Holy  Church.  She 
alone  has  a  right  to  decide  in  such  matters. 

The  opinion  entertained  of  Bishop  Neumann  by  the 
public  at  large  is  in  the  highest  degree  honorable  to 
him.  All  look  upon  him  as  a  saint.  We  shall  first 
adduce  in  support  of  our  statement  the  written  testi- 
mony in  our  possession  from  the  pen  of  creditable  au- 
thorities. 

The  Superioress-General  of  a  numerous  Sisterhood 
writes:  "Bishop  Neumann  was  a  saint.  Aside  from  his 
special  acts  of  heroic  virtue,  his  every  action,  his  every 
word,  his  whole  demeanor,  even  the  tone  of  his  voice, 
bore  the  unmistakable  character  of  sanctity.  Whenever 
he  came  to  any  of  our  convents,  his  first  visit  was  to  his 
dear  Lord  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament;  and  whilst  before 
the  altar,  his  whole  soul  was  so  absorbed  in  God  that 
he  appeared  to  be  no  longer  of  this  world.  Our  Sisters 
agree  with  me  in  what  I  say.  All  have  had  opportuni- 
ties to  be  convinced  of  its  truth." 

A  pious  prelate  closes  his  communication  in  reference 
to  the  deceased  with  these  words:  "May  God  be  merci- 
ful to  me  through  the  manifold  merits  of  this  apostolic 
man  who,  many  years  ago,  occupied  my  room  for  a  few 
days!" 

Rev.  Father  Sourin,  S.J.,  writes:  "The  distinguished 
and  highly  esteemed  Bishop  Neumann  deserves  to  have 
his  life  written,  on  account  of  his  eminent  sanctity,  his 
learning,  and  his  labors  for  the  Church  of  God  in 
America.  He  was  always  my  best  and  truest  friend.  I 
daily  invoke  his  aid  that  during  the  last  years  of  my 
earthly  career  he  may  assist  me  by  his  intercession  and 
lead  me  to  a  happy  eternity." 

Even  during  his  lifetime,  pictures  and  relics  received 
from  his  hand  were  carefully  preserved,  and  scraps  of 
his  garments  appropriated  as  precious  relics.  After  his 
death,  however,  the  desire  to  possess  articles  belonging 
to  him  was  so  great  that  the  eagerness  of  the  faithful 


452  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

had  to  be  checked.  Whilst  his  body  was  resting  on 
the  catafalque,  many  devoutly  kissed  his  feet  —  those 
blessed  feet  that  had  so  ardently  trodden  in  the  ways 
of  God  ;  others  touched  his  hands  with  their  pictures 
and  rosaries  which  they  afterward  kept  as  relics. 

The  gift  of  prophecy  has  been  ascribed  to  Bishop 
Neumann.  One  day  a  poor  mother  presented  herself 
before  him,  a  sickly-looking  babe  in  her  arms.  She  was 
in  dread  of  losing  the  little  creature,  and  she  told  the 
Bishop  so  in  tearful  accents.  "  My  boy  is  not  yet  two 
years  old,"  she  said,  "  and  he  suffers  agonizing  pains 
along  with  dropsy  of  the  head.  They  tell  me  he  must 
die  soon  ;"  and  the  poor  woman  wept.  The  Bishop's 
tender  heart  was  moved.  Laying  his  hand  gently  on 
the  child's  head,  he  said  :  "  This  child  will  not  die.  He 
will  grow  up  to  manhood;  he  will  be  your  consolation 
and  your  joy."  And  so  it  turned  out.  The  child  became 
a  model  youth,  the  support  of  his  widowed  mother  and 
his  younger  brothers  and  sisters. 

The  servant  of  God  likewise  foretold  the  time  of  his 
own  passage  from  this  world.  Walking  out  one  day 
with  his  reverend  nephew  in  the  summer  of  1857,  he 
remarked  :  "  My  father  is  reaching  a  very  advanced  age; 
he  is  now  eighty.  But  I  shall  not  see  fifty."  His 
nephew  replied  that  not  only  his  father  but  his  mother, 
also,  had  attained  old  age  (the  latter  was  seventy-three 
at  the  time  of  her  death);  that  all  the  members  of  their 
family  were,  as  a  general  thing,  long-lived  ;  therefore  he 
(the  Bishop)  might  look  forward  to  the  same.  But  the 
latter  repeated,  in  still  more  decided  tones  :  "  You  will 
see  that  I  shall  not  see  fifty."  And  in  fact,  Bishop 
Neumann  was  only  forty-eight  years,  nine  months,  and 
seven  days  old  at  the  period  of  his  demise. 

On  the  thirtieth  day  after  the  holy  Bishop's  death, 
the  vault  in  which  he  had  been  laid  was  opened  and  the 
coffin  raised.  On  examination  the  body  was  found  per- 
fectly incorrupt.  Articles  of  devotion  were  again 


His  Reputation  for  Sanctity.  453 

touched  to  the  remains,  and  all  present  desired  to  possess 
themselves  of  some  little  scrap  of  his  clothing  to  keep  as 
a  relic.  Ten  months  later  the  coffin  was  again  opened, 
when  it  was  found  that  decomposition  had  begun  its 
work. 

The  opinion  prevalent  among  the  faithful  that  Bishop 
Neumann's  life  had  been  that  of  a  saint  gave  rise  to 
great  confidence  in  him,  as  well  as  to  the  conviction  that 
he  had  already  received  the  reward  of  his  virtues:  that 
he  was  in  the  blissful  enjoyment  of  the  visjon  of  God. 
Numbers  of  the  faithful  might  be  seen  kneeling  rever- 
ently near  his  grave  ;  there  they  sought  and  often  found 
help  in  their  spiritual  and  temporal  necessities.  Of  the 
prayers  thus  answered  we  have  innumerable  accounts 
attested  by  trustworthy  witnesses.  Many  ascribe  to  his 
intercession  the  relief  experienced  in  trials,  temptations, 
and  scruples  of  conscience.  A  person  of  influence  and 
eminent  for  piety  gives  the  following  testimony:  "  In 
prayer  I  often  confided  my  troubles  to  the  saintly 
Bishop  Neumann,  and  to  glorify  the  truth  I  must 
acknowledge  that  my  supplications  have  frequently  and 
speedily  been  heard."  Similar  statements  have  been 
sent  us  by  numerous  others,  both  priests  and  religious. 

We  have  been  informed,  also,  of  many  wonderful  cures 
effected  through  the  holy  Bishop's  intercession.  Sore 
breasts,  wounds  of  long  standing,  were  healed  in  a  mar- 
vellously short  time  without  leaving  even  a  scar,  and 
epileptics  were  freed  of  their  malady  at  his  grave. 

Mother  Mary  Caroline,  of  the  School-Sisters  of  Notre 
Dame,  says:  "To  Bishop  Neumann's  intercession  we  are 
indebted  for  the  favorable  and  remarkable  answers  to 
many  of  our  petitions.  We  were  also  the  witnesses  of 
what  we  may  denominate  a  standing  miracle,  since  it 
was  repeated  daily  for  five  consecutive  years.  Sister 
Anselma,  who  was  so  deaf  that  she  could  scarcely  under- 
stand what  we  said  to  her,  received  daily  for  five  years, 
through  the  intercession  of  Bishop  Neumann,  whom  she 


454  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

had  invoked,  the  wonderful  faculty  of  being  able  to 
direct  the  boys'  school.  The  room  in  which  she  taught 
was  situated  in  the  basement  of  St.  Peter's,  near  the 
grave  of  the  holy  Bishop.  In  obedience  and  childlike 
confidence,  Sister  Anselma  daily  invoked  his  aid  before 
school  began,  and  daily  received  the  grace  to  hear  her 
scholars.  *  They  understood  her  perfectly,  and  she  con- 
ducted her  class  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  She  had  one 
hundred  and  seventy  little  ones  under  her  charge,  among 
whom  silence  and  attention  always  reigned  during  her 
hours  of  instruction." 

Mrs.  Ann  Baker  writes  as  follows  : 

"  PHILADELPHIA,  September  29,  1872. 

"  I  had  been  suffering  for  over  a  year  from  open  wounds 
on  my  feet.  I  had  had  the  services  of  several  physicians, 
but  the  evil,  instead  of  diminishing,  gradually  grew  worse, 
and  for  several  months  I  was  unable  to  leave  the  house. 
When  I  heard  of  the  wonderful  cures  wrought  at  Bishop 
Neumann's  grave  I  was  at  once  filled  with  confidence, 
and  I  conceived  an  intense  desire  to  visit  the  resting- 
place  of  the  servant  of  God,  there  to  implore  my  cure. 
Not  being  able  to  walk,  I  went  in  a  carriage  accompanied 
by  my  aunt.  The  distance  from  my  home  in  St.  John's 
parish  to  the  Redemptorist  church,  St.  Peter's,  is  con- 
siderable. On  alighting  from  the  carriage,  I  walked 
painfully,  my  aunt  assisting  me,  into  the  chapel  and  up 
to  the  holy  grave.  This  was  on  Saturday  afternoon, 
the  eve  of  Passion-Sunday.  With  lively  faith  I  drew 
near  the  grave,  and  fell  on  my  knees  at  the  sanctu- 
ary rail,  which  cuts  it  off  from  the  nave  of  the  chapel, 
when  behold!  the  little  gate  in  the  rail  opened  of  itself, 
as  if  inviting  my  entrance.  Yielding  to  an  interior  im- 
pulse, I  passed  in  and  knelt  on  the  slab  that  covers  the 
vault,  and  there  I  prayed.  I  implored  the  saintly 
Bishop,  if  in  possession  of  the  vision  of  God,  to  help  me 
in  my  present  need,  and  I  recited  a  few,  I  know  not  how 
many,  Paters  and  Aves.  Relief,  immediate  relief,  fol- 


His  Reputation  for  Sanctity.  455 

lowed  my  prayer.  I  arose  and  left  the  chapel  without 
assistance.  On  entering  the  carriage,  we  drove  straight 
to  St.  John's,  as  I  wished  to  go  to  confession  to  Rev. 
Father  Dunn.  He  was  at  the  time  in  his  confessional. 
He  knew  me  well;  he  knew  of  my  helpless  condition,  as  he 
had  often  brought  me  Holy  Communion  in  my  own 
house.  Happening  to  see  me  in  the  church,  he  left  the 
confessional  in  astonishment  to  ask  an  explanation  and 
to  hear  my  confession  in  the  sacristy.  ...  I  was  some- 
what fatigued  on  returing  home,  but  was  able  to  mount 
the  stairs  without  help.  I  at  once  discarded  the  use  of 
remedies,  and  in  a  short  time  my  feet  were  entirely 
well.  I  have  been  in  excellent  health  ever  since." 

Mary  Hunneker,  a  little  girl  of  thirteen,  was  threat- 
ened with  blindness,  the  nerves  of  both  eyes  being 
painfully  affected.  The  best  oculists  were  consulted, 
but  after  six  months'  medical  treatment  there  was  no 
improvement.  Then  the  child  began  a  novena  at  the 
Bishop's  grave,  in  which  she  was  joined  by  her  aunt 
She  prayed  with  childlike  confidence,  repeating  the 
words:  "O  holy  Bishop,  do  help  me  that  I  may  soon  be 
able  to  go  to  school  again  !"  Her  simple  faith  was  re- 
warded. In  a  few  days  her  eyes  were  perfectly  well,  and 
that  without  the  use  of  the  doctor's  remedies.  When  he 
paid  his  next  visit  to  his  little  patient,  great  was  his 
amazement  to  find  her  perfectly  restored.  He  immedi- 
ately accorded  her  permission  to  resume  her  school- 
duties. 

In  consequence  of  a  nervous  shock,  Elizabeth  O'Dris- 
coll  lost  her  voice,  August  25,  1868.  Several  physicians 
of  Mobile,  Ala.,  and  others  of  Philadelphia,  whither  she 
had  removed,  prescribed  for  her,  but  without  success. 
On  February  i,  1869,  she  received  Holy  Communion  in 
St.  Peter's,  and  whilst  praying  at  the  grave  of  the  holy 
Bishop  her  voice  was  perfectly  restored. 

Joseph  Hartmann  and  Mary  Barbara,  his  wife,  were 
very  anxious  about  their  child,  which,  though  three  years 


456  Life  of  Bishop  Neumann. 

and  a  half  old,  had  as  yet  made  no  attempt  to  walk. 
They  promised  that  if  their  child,  through  the  interces- 
sion of  Bishop  Neumann,  would  begin  to  walk,  they 
would  have  a  High  Mass  sung  in  thanksgiving.  Shortly 
after  their  vow  they  were  amazed  at  seeing  the  child  run- 
ning about  the  yard  and  playing  with  the  other  children. 
The  parents  praised  God  that  through  the  holy  Bishop's 
intercession  their  sorrow  had  been  changed  into  joy. 
Soon  after,  however,  the  little  one  relapsed  into  its  for- 
mer state:  it  could  not  stand;  its  feet  refused  to  carry  it 
around.  The  parents  looked  on  with  grief  and  conster- 
nation, and  suddenly  the  father  bethought  him  of  his 
promise.  It  had  not  been  fulfilled.  Then  he  renewed 
his  vow  to  have  a  solemn  High  Mass  celebrated  for  the 
glory  of  God  and  in  honor  of  his  faithful  servant.  The 
child  again  began  to  run  around  without  the  slightest 
trace  of  its  former  weakness.  We  need  hardly  state  that 
this  time  the  vow  was  accomplished. 

With  such  facts  before  us,  facts  well  authenticated, 
and  which  occurred  so  recently  after  his  death,  must  we 
not  entertain  the  firm  belief  that  the  servant  of  God  has 
entered  into  the  joys  of  his  Lord,  has  received  his  eter- 
nal reward?  Glorious  must  have  been  his  triumphal 
entrance  into  heaven,  heralded  by  the  rich  fruits  of  his 
apostolic  labors,  clothed  with  his  heroic  virtues,  his  con- 
secrated hands  filled  with  well-earned  merits!  What 
numbers  of  the  redeemed  had  not  his  untiring  zeal  sent 
thither  during  his  short,  full  life!  With  what  songs  of 
jubilation  they  thronged  the  pearly  gates  of  the  Heavenly 
Jerusalem  to  welcome  in  canticles  of  joy  the  coming  of 
their  benefactor,  to  lead  him  to  the  feet  of  Mary,  his 
Mother,  to  the  arms  of  Jesus,  the  one  sole  love  and  desire 
of  his  noble  heart ! 

May  this  biography  prove  to  our  times  that  the  age 
of  sanctity  is  not  confined  to  the  past;  that  there  are 
saints  in  our  own  day  as  eminent  for  holiness  as  in  any 
that  have  preceded  us!  May  it  excite  in  the  hearts  of 


His  Reputation  for  Sanctity.  457 

clergy  and  laity  an  earnest  desire  to  attain  perfection  in 
their  respective  states! 

We  trust  that  Bishop  Neumann,  by  his  intercession 
before  the  throne  of  God,  will  continue  his  apostolate  in 
behalf  of  the  Church  Militant  in  general,  and  particu- 
larly of  the  portion  for  which  he  himself  so  generously 
labored,  the  Church  in  the  United  States,  to  which  he 
sacrificed  talents  and  strength,  home  and  country — yea, 
even  life  itself. 

In  conclusion  we  must  acknowledge  our  conviction 
that  in  the  foregoing  pages  we  have  paid  but  a  small 
tribute  to  the  saintly  Bishop's  deserts.  It  may  be  that 
some  master-pen  will,  after  perusing  this  work,  be  in- 
cited to  portray  in  vivid  colors  the  heroic  deeds  and 
virtues  of  the  great  servant  of  God.  Hoping  such 
may  be  among  the  fruits  produced  by  it,  we  venture  to 
present  it  to  the  public,  imploring  upon  its  pages  and 
their  readers  the  blessing  of  Almighty  God,  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Ghost. 


THE    END. 


The  Cheapest  and  Best  Book  for  Missions. 

Catholic  Belief: 

or,  A  Short  and  Simple  Exposition  of  Catholic  Doctrine, 

By  the  Very  Rev.  Joseph  Faa  di  Bruno,  D.D.     Revised  and  adapted  to 

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The  book  is  just  the  one  to  put  in  the  hands  of  a  Protestant  friend, 
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BENZIGER  BROTHERS,  NEW  YORK,  CINCINNATI,  AND  ST.  LOUIS. 


A  Great  Success !    Over  40,000  sold  ! 

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The   Christian   Father; 

What  he  should  be,  and  what  he  should  do.  With  Prayers  suit- 
able to  his  condition.  From  the  German  by  Rev.  L.  A.  Lambert, 
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Yours  faithfully  in  Christ, 

»J«  JAMES  VINCENT  CLEARY,  Bishop  of  Kingston. 
From  the  Pastoral  Letters  of  Rt.  Rev.  M.  J.  O'FARRELL,  D.D., 

Bishop  of  Trenton. 

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Warmly  recommended  and  approved  by  Five  (5)  Archbishops  and 
Twenty-one  (21)  Bishops,  as  follows  : 

The  OTost  Rev.  Archbishops  of 

BALTIMORE,      CINCINNATI,       OREGON,       TORONTO,  Can.,      TUAM,  Ireland 
The  Right  Rev.  Bishops  of 

ALTON,  GRASS  VALLEY,      LONDON,  Can.,    NEWARK,  ST.  PAUL, 

BUFFALO,        KINGSTON,  Can.,    MARQUETTE.       OGDENSBURG,    SAVANNAH, 
COVINGTON,  LA  QROSSE,  NATCHEZ,  ST.  CLOCJD,  TRENTON, 

ERIE,  LITTLE  ROCK,        N    SQUALLY,        ST.JOHN.N.B.    VINCENNES, 

WILMINGTON. 
A.  Hfost  Iilberal  Discount  to  those  who  order  in  Quantities. 

TENZIGER  BROTHERS,  NEW  YORK,  CINCINNATI,  AND  ST.  LOUIS. 


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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

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